Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology Lab

The micro-propagation laboratory offers an exciting and stimulating world class environment for research, education and training in plant biotechnology. The laboratory has the potential for both rapid multiplication of crops and germplasm conservation and molecular crop research. The activities cover the broad spectrum of research using modern tissue culture techniques to improve vegetable and horticulture crops and food crops for future agricultural and environmental needs in Papua New Guinea and the Asia Pacific Region. The crops under study are potato, sweet potato, taro, cassava, yam, broccoli and vanilla. We are also interested in maintaining germplasm of drought tolerant sweet potato, highlands varieties of cassava, yam, taro, potato and black sigatoka resistant bananas. Additionally, there is progress on commercial production of PNG's native orchids and flowers.

Picture of Aiyura Micro-propagation Laboratory

View of the Aiyura Micro-propagation Laboratory

Our long-term aim is:

  1. In vitro maintenance and collection of improved germplasm of crops;
  2. Mass propagate superior cultivars of food crops in vitro and supply clean and healthy planting material to farmers and stakeholders;
  3. Collaborate with industries and government bodies to identify and provide appropriate tissue culture services that will assist in improving various crop industries in PNG;
  4. Diagnosis of plant diseases and pathogens using advanced tissue culture techniques;
  5. Adapt and standardise techniques and media for micro-propagation, multiply and maintain disease free planting material and;
  6. On-the job training and skill development for researchers, extension agents and agricultural communities.

Current projects:

  1. Micro-propagation of disease free potato plantlets;
  2. Callus induction and plantlet regeneration of four potato cultivars: Sequoia, Kennebec, Sebago and Spunta;
  3. In vitro conservation of vegetatively propagated crop plants;
  4. In vitro culture and microtuberisation of “Sequoia” potato (Solanum tuberosum, L.);
  5. Improve and sustain sweet potato productivity and production by mass propagation, through healthy disease free planting material;
  6. Mass propagation of Robusta F1 clones;
  7. Micro-propagation of vanilla plantlets; and
  8. Horticulture biotechnology: in vitro propagation and breeding of ornamental horticulture plants.

Achievements:

  1. Developed fast multiplication methodology for production of potato plantlets;
  2. Developed fast vanilla multiplication methodology; and
  3. Developed standardised methodology and protocols for fast multiplication of sweet potato and its maintenance

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Training

The Lab provides an excellent intellectual and physical environment for undergraduate and postgraduate training in Agricultural Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology.

Industry and International Collaborations


Academic collaboration: We have collaboration with research groups in Australia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. In addition we have close collaboration with the PNG University of Technology and University of Goroka.
Industry collaboration: Close collaboration with the private sector is highly valued by the Laboratory. We have a number of ongoing collaborative projects with the Fresh Produce Development Company, Cocoa and Coconut Research Institute, Coffee Research Institute and the National Department of Agriculture and Livestock.



For further information, Contact

NARI Main Highlands Programme
P.O Box 210, SIL, UKARUMPA
Eastern Highlands Province
Papua New Guinea

Phone: (675) 737 3500
Fax: (675) 737 3516
Email: robert.plak@nari.org.pg