Plant Tissue Culture

We undertake tissue culture and seed germination to micropropagate endangered native plant species and clone horticulturally important plants.

Last updated on 19 May 2026

Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory

The Singapore Botanic Gardens' Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory represents nearly a century of botanical innovation, tracing its origins to the late 1920s when Professor Eric Holttum initiated groundbreaking orchid hybridisation and seed germination programmes. Now housed in the modern Botany Centre since 2006, with upgraded facilities from 2015, this laboratory employs cutting-edge plant tissue culture techniques to advance botanical science.

Prof Eric Hottlum in his Laboratory

Plant tissue culture enables the cultivation of entire plants from microscopic tissue samples under sterile laboratory conditions. This sophisticated biotechnology serves multiple crucial functions at the Gardens, from supporting the prestigious VIP Orchid Naming Programme through seed germination and cloning of novel orchid hybrids, to propagating ornamental and horticulturally important species.

The laboratory plays a vital role in conservation efforts, utilising micropropagation techniques to preserve endangered native plants. By multiplying rare specimens without disturbing wild populations, this facility ensures genetic diversity preservation whilst contributing to global botanical research and Singapore's rich horticultural heritage.

Our Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory has glass windows to provide visitors with a clear view of four functional areas:

Media Preparation Room for preparation of plant culture media;
Transfer Room for transferring plants between culture vessels within laminar flow hoods which provide a sterile environment;
Shaker Room with shakers for plant cultures in liquid media; and
Culture Room with illuminated racks for plants growing on solid media.

Interpretative panels are available on all windows to help visitors understand the work that happens within the Laboratory.

Dr Gillian Khew, Centre Director for Plant Molecular Biology, Tissue Culture and Seed Bank, explaining key laboratory functions to visitors outside the Media Preparation Room