Regeneration ability is positively proportional to the size
of the shoot tip, but pathogen eradication is more efficient
using small shoot tips (Wang et al., 2006). Meristems of
greater dimensions regenerate a greater number of plants,
while the obtained number of virus-free plants is inversely
proportional to the size of meristem (Verma et al., 2004).
The risk of infection by a virus also increases with explant
size. Apart from the indicated factors, elimination of viruses
also depends on their concentration in plant tissue
and the physiological condition of the mother plant from
which a meristem has been isolated (Verma et al., 2004).
Meristem culture is a widely used system of plant virus
elimination and conservation of virus-free germplasm.