A total of 14 trainees - most from the nursery industry - have attended a five-day Plant Tissue Culture for Beginners training course, presented in Rockhampton by Dr Nanjappa Ashwath and Dr Poonam Bhatia from CQU Plant Sciences.

Dean of Arts, Health & Sciences Professor Professor Errol Payne presented certificates to the participants in the presence of Associate Professor Kerry Walsh and Dr Bob Newby.

Dr Ashwath said that one participant had asked for similar training opportunities in the areas of insect and disease management and other topics of regional importance.

Plant tissue culture is the art and science of growing plants in test tubes.

Dr Ashwath said this technique has been commercially exploited in plant breeding and biodiversity conservation, and in rapid multiplication of vegetatively propagated crops.

"This five-day training course was designed for those who have an interest in PTC, but have no previous experience. Thus, the course dealt with media preparation, disinfestation and various techniques of tissue culture," he said.

"The participants were supplied with lecture notes and a tissue culture kit, so that they can begin to practice PTC in their home environments."