Single cell culture is a method of growing an isolated cell aseptically on a nutrient medium under controlled conditions.
The technique was pioneered by Hildebrandt who attempted to culture single cells of a tumourous hybrid tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum with N. glutinosa).
The basic principle involved is the isolation of a large number of intact living cells and culturing them on a suitable nutrient medium.
Single cells can be isolated, either mechanically or enzymatically, from a number of tissues and organs of plant as well as from callus tissue and cell suspension.