We wish to set up a tissue culture lab but we are constrained by space available to us as a dept (Plant Science & Biotechnology)-We are trying to squeeze in all the lab units into the available laboratory space; tissue culture , molecular biology and plant pathology labs. We have designed the proposed lab with all the units in place taking all the safety precautions into consideration in the design. There is no issue with tissue culture and molecular biology labs all in place under the same roof but my worry is about including plant pathology lab even though it can be accommodated because of the problem of contamination. As the head of department i want to carry everybody along; the plant science ( for plant pathology) and the biotechnology ( for plant tissue culture+molecular biology) staff for logistic reason and otherwise. With a background in biotechnology this is the dilemma I am facing trying to squeeze in all the three lab units against my worry about contamination. Pls i need advise and suggestions from experts in the field of Plant tissue culture , molecular biology etc on this proposed multi-purpose lab. Attached is a sketch of the lab.
Essien Archibong Okon I worked in commercial plant disease diagnostic lab under the same roof with Plant tissue lab from 2012 till 2021. After several years of work we found such location incompatible with stable production of pathogen-free meristemic plants. Do not repeat the same mistake.
No, built up two separate rooms and have very strict procedures within each of them!
I’m a plant tissue culture person. During my career I have seen several cases of fungi contaminating our cultures. Then the work has to be autoclaved and thrown out to protect everyone else’s work. Then I learnt that another lab in the same building was working with that specific fungus. Spores will travel! I agree with the other replies that plant pathology and plant tissue culture labs should be kept far apart from each other. Both areas of study are important of course.
You are trying hard to help both plant pathologists and tissue culture in your department, but I think that your good intentions might be forgotten if their fungi start spoiling the tissue cultures. Perhaps Fleming was the last scientist on Earth to get something positive from an accidentally contaminated culture with a fungus.
Essien Archibong Okon I can add to opinion of Peter M Bradley some more: plant pathogenic bacteria (and viruses too) can be found in vitro-propagated plants - they are not so visible as fungi. Our task to remove them, not to add to our plant cultures. Article RNA-Seq of potato plants reveals a complex of new latent bac...
Look for example:
1. Swap the growth room with the culture room
2. Swap the offices with the plant pathology lab
3. Swap the relaxation room with the molecular bio lab
4. Get rid of wooden benches with tiles? Does that mean grout? Hard to keep clean? Suggest get a smooth surface to easily disinfected bench top
5. Have specific lab coat for tc maybe small room prior to entering
Best of luck.
No, keep both the labs separate.. as pathogens may contaminate the cultures
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