Anthurium
The NIF has facilitated the mass propagation, using tissue culture technique, of 4 Anthurium varieties developed by an innovator from Kerala.
About Anthurium
Anthurium is a flowering plant noted for its ornamental value. They are mostly grown indoors. They are noted for their ability to remove toxic compounds from the air- like formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, xylene, and allergens. It has even been used by NASA in its list of air purifier plants.
About the Varieties from Kerala
The innovator, Vasini Bai, had developed 10 varieties of the flower through cross-pollination. They are noted for their size (large and medium) along with unusual colors- light and dark orange, magenta, green and rose color combination, dark red and white colors.
Tissue Culture for Propagation
The National Innovation Foundation has facilitated the mass propagation of 4 of these varieties by tissue culture method at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research at Bengaluru. Tissue culture makes use of small pieces of plant tissue called explants for propagation in nutrient medium under sterile conditions. It tends to produce clones of the parent plant in large numbers.
