Many fungal contaminants are visible right from the primary in vitro plant culture initiation
except for the cryptic contaminants. Generally, these contaminants overgrow plant cultures
and often outcompete them for resources in the nutrient media (Pierik, 1987). Consequently,
in vitro contaminants often adversely interfere with culture growth and survival. Therefore,
freedom of pathogens (asepsis) in plant cultures has been the ultimate goal in many in vitro
protocols.