05.05.2013 Views

View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal

View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal

View/Open - ResearchSpace - University of KwaZulu-Natal

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

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 />

66

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!