View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal
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Literature review<br />
PIERIK (1997) stated that a brief alcohol rinse or swab is needed with hairy or wax<br />
coated surfaces. Epidermal hairs may trap air bubbles, in such cases these have to<br />
be evacuated under vacuum.<br />
Sterilized forceps and scalpels must be used for the transfer <strong>of</strong> explants to fresh<br />
solutions (AHLOOWALIA et al., 2002). Sterile containers must be used throughout<br />
the protocol <strong>of</strong> surface sterilization (AHLOOWALIA et al., 2002). If explants become<br />
brown or pale the strength <strong>of</strong> the sterilizing agent should be reduced (GAMBORG &<br />
PHILLIPS, 1995; PIERIK, 1997).<br />
A cut explant such as a stem or leaf that is surface sterilised <strong>of</strong>ten shows tissue<br />
damage from surface sterilisation (PIERIK, 1997). The damaged tissue should be<br />
removed before culture (SMITH, 2000b).<br />
GAMBORG & PHILLIPS (1995) suggest that a procedure for seed sterilization should<br />
include washing the seeds in detergent, after which they are rinsed with tap water<br />
and subsequently alcohol, a bleach solution and autoclaved demineralised water<br />
respectively.<br />
Seeds can be germinated on filter paper in Petri dishes or on an agar medium<br />
(GAMBORG & PHILLIPS, 1995). A single seed should ideally be placed in each<br />
container so that a single contaminated seed does not contaminate other seeds.<br />
Contamination resulting from improperly sterilised tissue will generally arise from the<br />
explant and be located in the medium adjacent to the explant (SMITH, 2000b).<br />
Contamination that is due to poor technique will generally appear over the entire agar<br />
surface (SMITH, 2000b). Examples <strong>of</strong> poor technique include contaminated transfer<br />
hood filters and culture cabinets and improperly sterilised media.<br />
Contamination <strong>of</strong> cultures by fungi appear as fuzzy growth whereas bacterial<br />
contamination appears as smooth pink, white or yellow colonies and contamination<br />
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