what is callus culture

Callus culture is a technique used in biological research and biotechnology to induce the formation of a growing mass of unorganized plant parenchyma cells from plant tissue samples (explants) after surface sterilization and plating onto tissue culture medium in vitro (in a closed culture vessel such as a Petri dish) ). The culture medium is supplemented with plant growth regulators, such as auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellin, to initiate callus formation or somatic embryogenesis). Callus initiation has been described for all major groups of land plants). Specific auxin to cytokinin ratios in plant tissue culture medium give rise to an unorganized growing and dividing mass of callus cells). Callus cultures are often broadly classified as being either compact or friable). Compact calluses are typically green and sturdy, while friable calluses are white to creamy yellow in color, fall apart easily, and are often used for cell suspension cultures). Callus culture is used to study plant cell differentiation, regeneration, and transformation, as well as to produce high-value phytochemicals.