Plant Tissue Plant Tissue Culturing Culturing Problem Scenario 3AProblem Scenario 3A

Problem Scenario OverviewProblem Scenario Overview

Challenged with designing a plant Challenged with designing a plant manufacturing system capable of manufacturing system capable of producing food by means of tissue producing food by means of tissue culturing.culturing.

System RequirementsSystem Requirements Limited space (approx Limited space (approx

2’x1’x1’)2’x1’x1’) Light sourceLight source Automated temp. control, Automated temp. control,

light exposure, nutrients.light exposure, nutrients. Allow for increase in plant Allow for increase in plant

sizesize Sealed sterile Sealed sterile

environment, allowing for environment, allowing for manipulation of plants and manipulation of plants and tools tools

Biological InformationBiological Information Boston fern or “Nepholepis exaltata” Boston fern or “Nepholepis exaltata”

was chosen for this problem scenario was chosen for this problem scenario because it is a variety that is easy to because it is a variety that is easy to culture, thus making it appropriate for culture, thus making it appropriate for learning tissue culturing techniques. learning tissue culturing techniques.

Organism SelectionOrganism Selection May be based on any number of criteria, depending May be based on any number of criteria, depending

on the reasons for culturing on the reasons for culturing

may include the plants ability to provide food may include the plants ability to provide food

profit from sale of the plantprofit from sale of the plant

preservation of an endangered or threatened speciespreservation of an endangered or threatened species

selection may also be based on the ability of the plant selection may also be based on the ability of the plant to be cultured, and/or the intended +method of to be cultured, and/or the intended +method of culturingculturing

Life Requirements of Life Requirements of SystemSystem

Need to address:Need to address: TempTemp Light Light Air/CO2Air/CO2 Water/Humidity Water/Humidity Nutrients/pHNutrients/pH Sterile environmentSterile environment

Technical InformationTechnical Information

This system will accommodate all the This system will accommodate all the environmental requirements of this organism environmental requirements of this organism because:because:

clean room by definition had a low level of clean room by definition had a low level of environmental pollutants, such as dust, airborne environmental pollutants, such as dust, airborne microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors. microbes, aerosol particles and chemical vapors.

Our system supplies nutrients, a sterile Our system supplies nutrients, a sterile environment and enough physical space to environment and enough physical space to develop.develop.

Impacts of Tissue Impacts of Tissue Culturing (pros and cons)Culturing (pros and cons)

ProsProsClean plants of infection Clean plants of infection

and quickly regenerateand quickly regenerateProduce in absence of Produce in absence of

seedsseedsConserve rare/endangered Conserve rare/endangered

speciesspeciesReproduce stress tolerant Reproduce stress tolerant

strainsstrains

ConsConsToo many of a narrow Too many of a narrow

genetic strain may limit genetic strain may limit gene pool of natural gene pool of natural populationpopulation

Threatens traditional Threatens traditional faming techniquesfaming techniques

Expensive/equipment Expensive/equipment intensiveintensive

Some varieties are difficult Some varieties are difficult to cultureto culture

Computer Control Computer Control OpportunitiesOpportunities

Some potential mechanism that could be used Some potential mechanism that could be used to monitor, run, and maintain the system would to monitor, run, and maintain the system would be:be:

*Differential pressure gage*Differential pressure gage * ThermoHygrometer (temp & humidity)* ThermoHygrometer (temp & humidity) *Air velocity monitor*Air velocity monitor *pH meter*pH meter *Light sensor*Light sensor