CIC tissue culture plants to Europe

The Tissue Culture Laboratory of CIC Agribusinesses made its maiden entry into the European market with an export of 200,000 tissue cultured plants recently.

The state of the art Tissue Culture Laboratory which was set up in Pelwehera, Dambulla in 2004 to cater to the domestic market exported a novel species of grass, scientifically known as Miscanthus sinensis after importing the mother plants from Denmark and producing the tissue cultured version at the laboratory.

Miscanthus sinensis which is also known as 'silver feather' is used mainly for arching. It is a graceful plant that forms a dense clump of green or variegated foliage. This plant is used in landscaping as a specimen, screen or a nice mass of textured foliage. Miscanthus requires a location that receives full sunlight.

According to a company spokesman the buyer in Denmark expressed total satisfaction after receiving the tissue cultured plants from Sri Lanka.

Currently the Tissue Culture Laboratory of CIC Agribusinesses produces fruit plants, mainly banana and pineapple which is marketed locally.

The company is also in the process of producing over 30 varieties of native Australian plants which will be completed at the end of this year and exported thereafter.