Vitrification: morphological and physiological disorders of in vitro plants

Abstract

Herbaceous and woody plants propagated in vitro are frequently affected by the redundant presence of various culture factors that lead to metabolic and morphological derangements. Anatomical, morphological and physiological anomalies in tissue cultured plants have been described by diverse terminology — vitrification, translucency, hyperhydration, succulency and glassiness. Although vitrification is a misused term because it refers to a physical and not a biological process, it is the most often used one, since it describes changes in the leaves, giving rise to a glassy appearance.