Part of Lesson Plan: Plant Tissue Culture

Activity Overview / Details

Part three is something that can be done as closure to the lab.  Students can perform steps #15-21 (pages 204-205).  One way to motivate students (if needed) is to tell them that they will have multiple african violets to give away as presents for the holiday season (I start the lab in September to make sure the lab is completed in time for the holidays).  In this portion of the lab, students make more media and cut apart their explants into separate plants.  This can only be done if there is individual plantlets (tiny roots and leafs) on the explants.  They put the plantlets into the new medium, rich in nutrients for root and leaf growth.  When the plantlets are large enough, students can plant into little styrofoam cups with soil. 

Teacher note: I have students add a paragraph briefly explaining the science and procedures that it took to make the new african violet.  They decorate the cups, attach the paragraph and hand the new plants out for the holidays to staff and family.