This project establishes a Micropropagation Laboratory for training future horticulture technicians. As micropropagation is an asexual method of producing large quantities of genetically identical plants, the lab is a practical application of the concept of Toti potency (i.e., each somatic plant cell contains all necessary information to create an entire new plant). It is technologically intensive, and until recently was not practical on a large/commercial scale. Current advances are allowing the process to see ever-greater use in the horticulture industry. Yet the supply of technicians trained in this technique is not adequate for the industry's demand. A curriculum providing systematic training in techniques currently used by industry is being developed to help introduce new innovations from research institutions. Providing such a curriculum is an innovation for the industry. Micropropagation requires a sterile and carefully controlled environment. Students must learn the more rigorous demands of working with plants in such an environment. This project provides the equipment needed to train horticulture students in the micropropagation of a selected assortment of herbaceous and woody plants. The requested laboratory equipment also serves as the foundation of an expanded horticulture curriculum, offering an option concentrating on micropropagation techniques.
