The main difference between callus culture and cell suspension culture is that callus culture is an undifferentiated cell mass of proliferating cells that grow on agar whereas cell suspension culture is a single group of cells suspended in liquid culture.
Generally, callus culture and suspension culture are two types of cell cultures in plant tissue culture. They are important for the amplification of cells to produce a number of plantlets.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Callus Culture
– Definition, Characteristics, Importance
2. What is Cell Suspension Culture
– Definition, Characteristics, Importance
3. Similarities Between Callus Culture and Cell Suspension Culture
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Callus Culture and Cell Suspension Culture
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Callus Culture, Cell Suspension Culture
What is Callus Culture
Callus culture is an unorganized mass of cells that keeps proliferating and the callus is an isolated mass of cells, growing in an artificial nutrient medium under controlled experimental conditions. There are three important criteria to initiate a callus culture. They are the aseptic preparation of plant materials, the selection of suitable nutrient medium, and the incubation of the culture under physical conditions. Generally, plant parts carry a number of surface-born microorganisms like bacteria and fungi. Therefore, at the initiation of the callus culture, it is important to sterilize all the surfaces of the plant part or the explant.
Figure 1: Callus
In the selection of a suitable nutrient medium, agar is either a solid or semisolid nutrient medium. The inclusion of plant growth hormones in the nutrient medium such as auxin and cytokinin induces callus growth. On the other hand, the incubation of the callus culture under physical conditions such as temperature, light, and humidity is important for the proper growth of the callus in the medium.
What is Cell Suspension Culture
Cell suspension culture is single cells or small aggregates of cells that multiply in the suspended liquid medium. Generally, the liquid medium is continuously agitated. The suspension culture allows the cell suspension to undergo cellular events during its growth and development. More importantly, a suspension culture contains free cells and small aggregates of cells in a liquid medium. In general, a callus is transferred into the agitating liquid medium where the large callus pieces break up. Only single cells or small cell aggregates are transferred into a fresh medium.
Figure 2: Suspension Culture
Moreover, subculturing of the suspension culture allows propagation of the cell suspension. Therefore, a cell suspension contains single cells in the proper biochemical and physical conditions.
Similarities Between Callus Culture and Cell Suspension Culture
- Callus culture and cell suspension culture are two types of cell cultures in plant tissue culture.
- They are important for the proliferation of cells.
- Both cultures take two to three weeks to grow.
Difference Between Callus Culture and Cell Suspension Culture
Definition
Callus culture refers to a growing mass of unorganized plant parenchyma cells while suspension culture refers to single cells or cell aggregates that multiply or divide when agitated in a liquid medium.
Significance
Usually, callus culture is an undifferentiated cell mass of proliferating cells that grow on agar while cell suspension culture is a single group of cells suspended in a liquid culture.
Type of Culture
Callus culture is a solid culture while suspension culture is a liquid culture.
Type of Cells
Callus culture contains undifferentiated, disorganized, actively growing cells while suspension culture contains single cells or small aggregates of cells that multiply as a suspension.
Agitation
Callus culture does not agitate while suspension culture undergoes agitation.
Conclusion
Both callus culture and suspension culture are two types of cell cultures in the plant tissue culture. In brief, callus culture is an undifferentiated, disorganized, actively growing cells on agar. In contrast, suspension culture is a single or single group of cells growing in a suspension of a liquid medium. Suspension culture is an agitated culture while callus culture is not agitated. Therefore, the main difference between callus culture and suspension culture is the type of growth.
References:
- “Callus Culture: History, Principles and Significance: Plant Tissue Culture.” Biology Discussion, 26 Oct. 2015.
- “Cell Suspension Culture: Definition, Principle, Protocol and Importance: Plant Tissue.” Biology Discussion, 26 Oct. 2015
Image Courtesy:
- “Callus1” By Igge – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “MESC EBs” By Stemcellscientist – Own Work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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