Hi all,
Question as per above. I am undertaking some plant tissue culture at home and some protocols I have found call for 70% ethanol to disinfect explants.
Can isopropanol or methylated spirits be used or do the additives that make these things unpalatable also make them toxic to plants? I ask as these are readily available compared to 70% ethanol.
thanks in advance
I have used Ethanol in dilution only. Spirits are dehydrating and can dessicate the plant tissue. The purpose is to disinfect them.
For humans as far as I know methanol is poisonous, so are other alcohols, propanol and butanol, I cannot be sure for plants but it could be one reason only ethanol is used.
Usually I used diluted bleach for my samples. You can easily do that in your home. Be sure to add a sufficient amount of water for washes between washing with 10% bleach.
Yes, 70% alcohol (pure) or denaturing alcohol (containing ethanol + methanol mixed) which cannot be consumed and is cheaper can be used as disinfectant on a larger scale for plant tissue for surface sterilization - safe on plant tissue and can be used in large scale
Methyl alcoholhas the weakest bactericidal action. Hence , 70% Ethanol is used for disinfection of tissue culture.
Ethanol 50% can be used to disinfect expands for plant tissue culture.
As we all know, ethanol 70% is more common and successful than the others.
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