IN-VITRO PEARL PRODUCTION USING MARINE ORGANISMS

摘要

This invention in general relates to the production of pearls using marine organisms. More particularly, the present invention relates to in-vitro pearl production wherein shape, size and colour of the pearl can be controlled. A semi solid medium is used in the present invention which facilitates the bead to stand stationary and the cells grow over and around the bead and nacre is deposited within 15 days of initiation of cultures. Shell beads treated in organ cultures of mantle tissue of pearl oyster Pinctada fucata were harvested at different intervals and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) shows that nacre growth continued to grow up to 10 months. Similarly the nacre growth was tested in the organ cultures of mantle tissue of abalone Haliotis varia. and the results indicated that there was continuous growth of nacre throughout and all the shell beads got nacre coating.