ENHANCING PRODUCTION OF PLANTING MATERIALS THROUGH IN VITRO CULTURE TECHNIQUE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SABAH

Abstract

The Department of Agriculture (DOA) Sabah has been involved in producing tissue culture planting materials since 1996 as part of the Seventh Malaysia Plan (7th MP, 1996-2000). The objective of this paper is to highlight the growth and achievements of DOA Sabah in the production of tissue culture planting materials over the past 27 years. This paper will explore the application and benefits of tissue culture, the varieties of plants and culture mediums utilized, the evaluation of clones in both laboratory and field settings, implementation strategies, encountered challenges, identified opportunities, and the future prospects of implementing tissue culture techniques within DOA Sabah. A total of 10 formulations have been developed between 1996 and 2023 to produce more than 205,000 tissue culture planting materials including banana, pineapple, orchid, oil palm, potato, and ginger, which have been distributed throughout the region. The use of tissue culture has significantly improved the production of planting materials for large-scale and commercial purposes within DOA Sabah.