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  • To overcome the limitations...
    Lee, Joon Sang

    Journal of plant physiology, 12/2023, Volume: 291
    Journal Article

    The fixed life pattern of plants is the most threatening factor that hinders the survival and reproduction rate of plants. Maximization of reproduction is determined by the survival rate of the organism. If part of a shoot apical meristem or root apical meristem is cut and planted in soil with appropriate nutrients and survival conditions, a cloned plant known as an ramet, may be developed. Therefore, the ability of plants to constantly produce meristems is essential for survival. In addition, meristem stem cells have enabled plants to evolve a wide variety of asexual reproductive systems. When a tree is pruned, at least one or more new meristems are formed in the surrounding area, and those meristems develop into new branches. In other cases, stem cells normally derived from meristems alone exhibit the potential for asexual reproduction through their seed-like roles. Alternatively, some plants can form somatic cells, which are important in various types of asexual reproduction. There are 125 species of plants in the genus of Kalanchoe, which are succulent plants, and most of these species are well known to reproduce asexually through somatic cells. When we cut the stem of a plant, a callus is formed at the end of the cut side. Plant callus is mainly used to develop new plant varieties in tissue culture research. Alternatively, the plant callus is also used as a material for asexual reproduction. Callus can also form if the plant is infected with bacteria such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Differentiated cells of a plant can reproduce asexually by acquiring the ability to function as stems through transdifferentiation. These characteristics play important roles in adapting to environmental changes and extending the lifespan of woody plants.