Tissue Culture
Tissue culture is a fundamental tool in molecular biology. It provides a controlled environment free from external living organisms, enabling researchers to precisely regulate the growth dynamics of the organism under study. In plant tissue culture, this technique allows for the rapid cloning of specific plants, genetic modification, and the harvesting of particular cell types for the creation of secondary products, among other applications.
Pistachio Micropropagation
During my tenure at Tissue-Grown Corporation, my primary focus was on developing a cutting-edge micropropagation platform for the next generation of rootstocks for the Wonderful Company. I was the first to create a production-grade micropropagation system from a mature UCB-1 pistachio clone. Utilizing this system, we successfully produced over 10 million pistachio rootstocks, which now occupy tens of thousands of acres of orchards in the Central Valley.
Avocado Micropropagation
I developed a micropropagation system for avocado rootstocks that significantly reduced the production costs compared to traditional industry methods. Although still under development, this system has proven effective for several varieties, including Zutano and Duke 7.
Macadamia Micropropagation
Macadamia is another commercially significant crop that had not been produced at scale until I developed an effective micropropagation system. This system alleviated a major industry bottleneck in the production of macadamia plants.
Secondary Product Production
Plants produce numerous secondary metabolites that are challenging to synthesize through traditional chemical methods. These compounds can be harvested by inducing plant cells into an undifferentiated state and cultivating them in bioreactors. By optimizing specific culture conditions, the production of these secondary metabolites can be enhanced. Subsequently, the cells can be harvested, and the compound of interest can be extracted.