As an emerging technology, the plant tissue culture has a great impact on both agriculture and industry, through providing plants needed to meet the increasing world demand. It has made significant contributions to the advancement of agricultural sciences in recent times and today they constitute an indispensable tool in modern agriculture. Tissue culture allows the production and propagation of genetically homogeneous, disease-free planting material. Cell and tissue in vitro culture is a useful tool for the induction of soma clonal variations. Genetic variability induced by tissue culture could be used as a source of variability to obtain new stable genotypes. Interventions of biotechnological approaches for in vitro regeneration, mass micro propagation techniques and gene transfer studies in tree species have been encouraging.

Course Objective

  • To provide knowledge and practical exposure on plant tissue culture technologies as a modern plant biotechnological tool to enhance agricultural productivity.

Target Group

  • Any person seeks basic & advanced knowledge in practical plant Tissue
    culture technology concentrating more hands-on experiences

Course Delivery Method

  • On site Lectures and Laboratory practical at Tissue Culture Research and Development Laboratory, Department of Agro-Technology, University of Colombo, Institute for Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences, Weligatta, Hambantota

Course Duration

  • 12 weeks (Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 am – 4.00 pm)

Number of hours

  • 147 hrs. (Including theory hours, practical hours, independent learning hours and assessment hours)

Medium

  • Sinhala & English

Entry Qualifications

  • Five passes in one sitting of G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) or a minimum 01-year working experience in a related field

Course fee:

  • Rs. 40,000.00 (Full amount should be paid upon registration)

Registration fee

  • Rs. 500.00

Assessment Strategy

  • Continuous Assessment Marks 60% & Final Examination Marks 40%

Application Closing Date:

28.07.2025 (Since limited seats are available, the priority will be given for early applicants)

For more details:

Dr. (Mrs.) N. P. Vidanapathirana

Senior Lecturer

Head

Department of Agro-Technology,

University of Colombo,

Institute for Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences,

Weligatta, Hambantota.

Contact:071 105 0716 / 071 1212329

Apply Online

Or

Download Application send Via Registered Post

Program Schedule and Course Content

Advance Certificate in Plant Tissue Culture Technology is a SLQF Level 2 (NVQ Level 4) program scheduled to be covered in 12 weeks with following key areas.

Unit Session Content
01

Introduction to Plant Tissue Culture technology

 Session 01 History of Plant Tissue Culture as biotechnology tool
Session 02 Tissue culture-oriented laboratory designs
Session 03 Low-cost inputs for Tissue culture production
Session 04 Introduction to machineries and instruments used in plant Tissue culture technology with principles and standards
Session 05 Mother plant selection and maintenance
02

Technology requirements and handling practices

 Session 01 Ex-plants identification and preparation for inductions
Session 02 Preparation of basic materials and working strategies
Session 03 Stock solution preparation and storage
Session 04 Medium preparation techniques and sterilization
Session 05 Ex-plants inductions and maintenance
03

Advanced managements practices in Plant Tissue Culture

 Session 01 Sub culturing of multiplication stages
Session 02 Root regeneration and differentiation
Session 03 Management practices of a Tissue culture-oriented laboratory
Session 04 Identification of contaminations and plant acclimatization
Session 05 Future trends in Plant Tissue Culture technology

Course Learning Out Comes:

At the completion of the 147 hrs. course, students will be able to:

CLO1: Define the basic concepts of Plant Tissue Culture as a Biotechnology tool

CLO2: Recognize the importances of Plant Tissue Culture technology

CLO3: Practice the different in-vitro techniques used in Plant Tissue Culture

CLO4: Acquire all practical skills used in Plant Tissue Culture technology

CLO5: A detailed identification of chemicals, mediums and equipment used Plant Tissue

Culture technology

CLO6: Analyse the role of plant growth regulators for different plant requirements

CLO7: Describe the methods of plant regeneration using different techniques

CLO8: Recognize Strengths and Opportunities in Plant Tissue Culture

CLO9: Evaluate and explore possible solutions for the Threats in Plant Tissue Culture

CLO10: Evaluate the future trends of domestic and foreign markets for Tissue culture

productions