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Commercial Success of ECLAIR Programme
AGRE-0017: Improvement of in vitro plant cultures at laboratory and industrial scales: control of gaseous environment by using selective membranes as lids to culture containers |
Science Background
Many types of plants, including ornamentals, horticultural crops, vegetables and fruit bushes, can be produced using techniques of cell and tissue culture, generally referred to as in vitro plant micropropagation. However, the procedures used are labour intensive and costly.
Objectives
This project intended to examine the effects of changes in gases found in the headspace of containers sealed with membranes of varying gas permeability in order to develop a new type of container.
Significant changes and results since end of ECLAIR
During 1996/7, novel one-use disposable sterile containers, developed as a result of this project, underwent commercial trials in France for micropropagation of roses and palm trees. This led to the conclusion that the novel containers should not be commercialized because the increase in yield and thus profitability was not high enough to justify changes to established procedures and purchase of new equipment.
Results
At end of this ECLAIR project
From a selection of 14 microperforated and plain plastic packaging films from various companies, 8 were characterized as suitable for the purposes, where high degrees of humidity (50-100%) and different temperatures (0-40ºC) modified gas permeability properties. The chemical composition of films was also considered in terms of compatibility with other plastic materials used in the new containers, as well as light transmission properties in the 200-800 nm spectrum required for plant growth. Two types of caps were tested, as were various prototype containers, for light transmission, air-tightness of joints between cap and bottom, as well as gaseous exchanges, with different types of selective membranes. During development, handling revealed high risks of contamination at joints, as well as leaks due to incomplete sealing of membranes at the upper part of the cap. However, these problems were overcome in due course by designing various new products, including rings and hollow caps These were systematically tested in many experiments and shown to give beneficial results in many cases. Results obtained at laboratory and industrial scales, with different species investigated throughout the complete propagation process (from multiplication to acclimatization stages), showed that by using containers sealed with suitable membranes it is possible to improve the multiplication, survival, growth and quality of plants. As a result, the contribution of labour costs per plant can be decreased. Experiments performed have enabled definition of the parameters and factors that govern gas exchanges (both quantitatively and qualitatively) during in vitro propagation and thus influence the micropropagation of a number of plant species. In addition, the technical and economic benefits of using thin plastic membranes as lids of containers, to improve the quality of plants and to decrease man-power and energy needs, has been shown. A patent application was submitted for a design for a new type of container (No: 94-11402), to be built by Thomas S.A., France.
Current position
Novel one-use disposable sterile containers have been developed that have a film for gaseous exchange integrated in the cap. These avoid the need for washing, autoclaving, drying, etc. Two private French companies carried out a one year trial experimenting on roses and palm trees during 1996/7. The trial compared samples of containers developed under this project with conventional glass containers. This led to the conclusion that the novel containers should not be commercialized because the increase in yield and thus profitability was not high enough. No further research or product development has been carried out by INRA due to a shift in research emphasis from micropropagation to other culture methodologies, mostly using Petri dishes and very small containers.
Impact
Commercial
Since micropropagation companies have used various in vitro tissue culture processes for many years, they have established procedures and have fully amortized their equipment. Hence, although the containers offer some benefits, commercialization of this technology was not considered to be viable at this point in time.
Contacts
Author
URGAP, INRA
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by CPL Press:
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