CIU Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies students attend a technical trip

The Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies Graduate Students made a technical trip to the Güzelyurt Tissue Culture Laboratory within the scope of the Plant Tissue Cultures course.

The trip provided the students with the opportunity to examine tissue culture methods on site in the laboratory environment during the trip, which was held under the supervision of the CIU Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies Dean Prof. Dr. İbrahim Baktır.

Stating that advanced tissue culture methods were applied in the laboratory in question and that they obtain tens of thousands of plants per year from a tiny piece, Prof. Dr. Baktır stated that the plant to be reproduced here is kept disease-free and without any virus exposure. Baktır went on to explain that parts such as cell, shoot tip, root tip, bud, embryo or pollen were taken from the healthy rootstock and reproduced under completely sterile conditions.

Explaining that the tools, chemicals and necessary equipment used require the highest level of care and knowledge due to being quite expensive, Baktır said, "For example, a healthy banana plant can produce close to a million new plants after the necessary sterilization processes from the shoot end."

Emphasizing that almost all stages of the tissue culture method were shown practically to the students during the technical trip, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Baktır reminded that the work carried out in tissue culture laboratories requires meticulousness and requires knowledge, experience and patience.

Stating that an important experience for the students participating in the technical trip was realized, Baktır noted that in this way, the students have the chance to follow the theoretical knowledge they learned in the lessons practically.