Impact of chitosan on plant tissue culture: recent applications

Chitosan is a very versatile biomaterial with countless applications in different fields. Due to its biodegradability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility, the use of chitosan is associated with sustainable practices. When applied to plants, in an agricultural context, chitosan induces defense mechanisms, stress resistance, and increased productivity and it has proven to be a feasible alternative to harmful agrochemicals. For in vitro plant culture, chitosan has been also applied to crops and other economically important species, with promising results. In this review, we discuss the recent applications of chitosan on plant tissue culture. Chitosan has been mainly used for the improvement of several growth parameters, but it has been also applied to enhance in vitro seed germination and accumulation of secondary metabolites. The plant material used, the concentrations and forms of chitosan employed, and the influence of chitosan on other plant parameters during in vitro culture are revised. We anticipate that chitosan applications will increase in a near future because of its potential and the increasing demand for more eco-friendly procedures. Key message The review presents an overview of the recent applications of chitosan in plant tissue culture, including growth improvement, seed germination, and elicitation of secondary metabolites. Moreover, the potential mechanisms of action of chitosan are discussed.