It leaf is used as explant, surface sterilization of the explant is done with

Options

A. Liquid detergent
B. Sodium hypochlorite
C. Mercuric chloride
D. Distilled water

Answer

To answer the question regarding the surface sterilization of a leaf explant, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Concept of Explants**:
- Explants are parts of a plant (like leaves, stems, or roots) that are used in tissue culture to grow new plants. They are taken from a mother plant.

2. **Recognize the Need for Sterilization**:
- Before using an explant in tissue culture, it is essential to sterilize it. This is to eliminate any contaminants such as bacteria, fungi, or viruses that may be present on the surface of the plant tissue.

3. **Identify Common Sterilization Agents**:
- There are several agents that can be used for surface sterilization, including:
- Liquid detergent
- Sodium hypochlorite
- Mercury chloride
- Distilled water

4. **Determine the Most Effective Sterilization Agent**:
- Among the options provided, sodium hypochlorite is commonly used for surface sterilization in tissue culture. It is effective in killing microbes and is widely used in laboratory settings.

5. **Select the Correct Answer**:
- Based on the understanding that sodium hypochlorite is the preferred agent for sterilizing explants, the correct answer to the question is **sodium hypochlorite**.

### Final Answer:
The surface sterilization of a leaf explant is done with **sodium hypochlorite** (Option B).

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