Which part of the plant is commonly used as source material for explants in tissue culture?

Leaves are commonly used as source material for explants in tissue culture due to several factors. They typically have a high surface area which allows for efficient gas exchange during the growth process. Additionally, leaves can contain a variety of cells that are capable of regeneration; this means they can easily proliferate and develop into new plant tissues when placed in the right culture medium.

Leaves also have practical advantages, such as being easily accessible and generally abundant on the plant, which allows for a greater quantity of explants to be harvested without damaging the plant significantly. This makes them suitable candidates for propagation through tissue culture techniques aimed at plant cloning or breeding.

While flowers, roots, and stems can also be used for explants, they may present challenges such as lower proliferation rates or complications related to flowering processes. Flowers are not typically as versatile for regeneration compared to leaves, roots might have limited regenerative capability and tend to be more sensitive to culture conditions, and stems can sometimes be difficult to manage due to their structural complexity.