We’ve Got You!

In 2022, SIVB returned to in-person annual meetings – an essential part of bringing our community back together. Continuing to stay engaged, motivating each other, and learning from each other is now more important than ever for our Society. With this in mind, “We’ve Got You!” is a featured series of the In Vitro Report, which shares the stories of SIVB members, new and seasoned, alike. Regardless of your career stage and area of expertise, we hope these reflections encourage and engage you, our students, colleagues, and members, to pursue your research dreams!

In this issue, we are honored to highlight Michael Kane, Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida. Prof. Kane has been a dedicated member of the TCA (Tissue Culture Association) and SIVB for many years, and has served as the Chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee in the 2020-2026 terms. Prof. Kane was elected to continue serving in this role during the 2026-2028 term.

In his piece titled “Two Weeks Down the Tubes in the Adirondacks” Prof. Kane provides historical perspectives and reflects on the influence that our Society had on the development of his professional career.

We hope you will be touched and inspired by Michael’s story and the pivotal opportunities that shaped his career, and we look forward to reading your stories in this column soon!

Addy Alt-Holland and Michael Fay

Celebration of the TCA/SIVB 80^th anniversary has motivated me to reflect on the influence the Society had on me as a doctoral student and academic researcher/teacher. My story begins back in the late 1970s as a doctoral student in the Botany Department at the University of Rhode Island. My research focused on the physiology of leaf development in aquatic plants.  My desire to use highly controlled experimental conditions began my journey to improve my in vitro culture skills. While excellent graduate training in plant tissue culture was available at other institutions such as the University of California-Riverside, University of Florida and Texas A&M University (among others), such opportunities were limited at my University. Fortunately, since 1971 the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center (WAJCSC) in Lake Placid, New York (Panel A) had served as an international center for hands-on TCA-led in vitro cell biology training for researchers and practitioners. Courses included the popular 3-day workshop Tissue Culture Techniques for Plant Propagator taught by Drs. Toshio Murashige and Don Dougall. It’s interesting to note that the 1979 registration fee was $453.00 ($2,039 in 2026 dollars) including lunch. Not a bad deal! The other more intensive course, originally developed by Dr. Indra Vasil, emphasized tissue culture applications for plant biotechnology.

With a TCA scholarship and a small loan (poor engaged graduate student) from my major professor Dr. Luke Albert, I registered  for Plant Cell and Tissue Culture held from June 9 – 20, 1980 at WAJCSC. The course, directed by Dr. Don Dougall, was co-taught by Drs. Toshio Murashige (Panel D), Paul Bottino, Morris Johnson, Wilfred Killer, Fred Meins  and Joe Polacco.

After completing the recommended reading list, I loaded up my powder blue 1973 VW Super Beetle for the 6-hour drive to Lake Placid.  Honestly, I was unsure how well I would perform while there. Twenty-three participants representing five countries shared this incredible learning experience (Panel B). Dr. Carol Stiff, later the founder of Kitchen Culture Kits. Inc attended. Most participants stayed at the “rustic” Swiss Acres Motor Lodge down the hill from the WAJCSC.

The Center was designed for hands-on instruction. The teaching laboratory was well-equipped with wide benches with views of the Adirondack Mountains (Panel C). The course was intensive with three-hour lectures each morning, including Saturday,  followed by four-hour hands-on laboratory experiences each afternoon. A well-organized three ring binder containing all lecture outlines, references, and detailed laboratory protocols became our in vitro culture “bible”. The laboratory topics ranged from organ culture, protoplast isolation/fusion, cell suspension culture and cell cryopreservation. I was successful in completing all the protocols. I recognized that preparing quality concept lecture coupled with successful laboratory exercises was the key to effectively teaching in vitro culture. I did have lunch with Dr. Murashige during which he generously provided advice on my doctoral research. I returned from Lake Placid with renewed confidence. Sadly, due to changes at WAJCSC, the course would be taught only one more time.

I was fortunate to be hired in a teaching/research faculty position at the University of Florida with responsibility for teaching micropropagation. Opportunity allowed us to develop an incredible micropropagation teaching/research facility. Following WAJCSC tradition, each summer I taught a 4-day workshop: Introducing Plant Tissue Culture in the Classroom (Panels E,F).

For 34 years I was privileged to work with many talented undergraduates and graduate students who shared their passion for in vitro culture by actively participating at SIVB meetings (Panels G, H). I am grateful to the TCA/SIVB for giving me a gift in the Adirondacks 46 years ago that keeps on giving.