A Web-based Plant Tissue Culture Information System

Abstract

The World Wide Web recently emerged as a method for scientists to communicate with each other in a more rapid and in a less costly manner. The University of Minnesota hosts the PLANT-TC listserv as a service to the international tissue culture community (http://www.agro.agri.umn.edu/plant-tc/listserv/). One of the most frequently sought types of information is a recommendation for a "beginning point" for culturing a wide variety of plant species. Members of the PLANT-TC listserv have discussed the possibility of a micropropagation protocols database, similar to the Plant Culture Media books by E.F. George, which would be accessible on the Web. Many of these inquiries come from individuals without ready access to extensive library holdings, including those in the industry, public school, and international sites. The Plant Tissue Culture Network Web site (http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/tisscult/database/) was constructed and is a place where anyone interested in plant tissue culture can gain access to great amounts of plant tissue culture related information from one readily accessible source. The Web site includes a searchable database of plant tissue culture media recipes as well as a searchable database of plant tissue culture. To determine the level of interest in the Plant Tissue Culture Network among the scientific and business community an online survey instrument was designed. The Web based survey was presented to the 1625 members of the PLANT-TC listserv; 107 responses were received. Most of the responses relating to the mechanics and ease of use of the Web site were very positive. There was some disagreement when respondents were asked about funding for the project. Most were not as supportive of paying for the service themselves, whether as a membership to the service or as service of a professional society. Respondents were more agreeable when asked whether grants or advertisements should fund the project.