Plant cells can be grown in isolation from intact plants in tissue culture systems. The cells have the characteristics of callus cells, rather than other plant cell types. These are the cells that appear on cut surfaces when a plant is wounded and which gradually cover and seal the damaged area.
Pieces of plant tissue will slowly divide and grow into a colourless mass of cells if they are kept in special conditions. These are:
initiated from the most appropriate plant tissue for the particular plant variety
presence of a high concentration of auxin and cytokinin growth regulators in the growth media
a growth medium containing organic and inorganic compounds to sustain the cells
aseptic conditions during culture to exclude competition from microorganisms