Stage 1

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Aim To initiate a culture  In principle the method used should be reproducible  100 % success is not a must It is a compromise between an adequate sterilization procedure and a good rate of survival of “non contaminated” explants.

Procedure Most often axillary buds or meristems are used. In certain cases cultures are initiated from other plant parts. E.g. it is difficult to sample “non contaminated” axillary buds from Ficus lyrata and Anthurium spp. Therefore adventitious buds are initiated on leaf explants, and the original shoots are thereafter used in a system of axillary branching in stage 2.  It is most often not recommended to start propagation during the initiation stage. See also meristem culture, organogenesis, embryogenesis

Example: Initiation of roses: