Question

Assertion (A): For plant tissue culture, it is essential that the explants, culture vessels, medium and instruments are free from microbes.

Reason (R): In a nutrient medium the cells grow into an unorganised mass of cells called callus.

Options

• Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true, and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.

• Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true, but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.

• Assertion (A) is true but reason (R) is false.

• Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are false.

Answer 1

Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true, but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.

Explanation:

Tissue culture must be kept free of microbes because microbial contamination can interfere with or destroy the culture. Cells may form a callus in nutrient medium, but this does not explain why sterile conditions are essential.