In Vitro Culture Technology of Tropical Plants
The National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS, previously named “Korea Forest Research Institute”) and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) of the Republic of Costa Rica established a MOU in 2011 for collaborative forest research, scientific exchange programs, etc. Since 2013, NIFoS has been working on technical research with CATIE to develop an effective plant propagation through tissue culture, asexual breeding, chemicophysical rejuvenation, other relevant technology.
As the results, in vitro culture technology was developed which is applicable to major plantation species (Spanish cedar, mahogany, melina tree) and chemicophysical treatments using LED layer and growth regulant were developed for in vitro tissue culture of teak tree. In addition, appropriate bioreactor inoculum and invitro stembreeding were examined properly for invitro plant production using bioreactor.
Till 2017, NIFoS further plans to investigate mass invitro culture conditions for major plantation species of Costa Rica, create a demonstration forest, collect superior clones, and pursue technology commercialization.
- Planting of Teak saplings and clones
Planting of Teak saplings and clones
- Melina in vitro culture
Melina in vitro culture
Joint Research on Forest Ecosystem Management
NIFoS conducted a five-year joint research with CATIE from 2013 to 2017 to examine ecological changes of forests caused by climate change and develop a technology to improve ecological forest functions.
NIFoS carried out a bird survey in different regions including forests, coffer plantations, sugar cane plantations, stock farm, palm plantation, a lake, a pine tree forest, etc. Further it surveyed Copael area for leaf litter decomposition and the survey paper will be revealed.