plants dependent on the type of nanofibre mat used
was similarly observed during callus subculture. This
might be related to the different properties of the
nanofibre mats used. For example, PVDF4 nanofibres
are nonpolar whereas PLA4 nanofibres are polar.
In preliminary observations, it was estimated that
PVDF4 nanofibre mats had a higher porosity than
PLA4 nanofibre mats. Possibly, callus initiation and
subculture in bilimbi stem explants had preference on
less polar and more porous substrate (such as PVDF4
nanofibre mats). Callus initiation and subculture in
aromatic chilli might have the opposite preference
(hence PLA4 nanofibre mats). Further studies, however,
are needed to elucidate this and other relationships
between properties/structures of nanofibre mats
and responses of plant tissue culture.
In conclusion, these results suggest that electrospun
nanofibre mats might be more than just as inert
physical support matrices for plant tissue culture. It
seems worthy of future studies to investigate in depth
the utility of different types of nanofibre mats for