Method and apparatus for tissue transfer

A system coupled to a negative pressure source for use transferring plant tissue explants from a first container having a first nutrient medium substrate adapted to provide nutrients to the tissue explants to a second container having a second nutrient medium substrate adapted to provide nutrients to the plant tissue explants, the system comprising:

• a flexible fluid conduit having a first end adapted to be coupled to the negative pressure source and a second end which is in fluid communication with the first end through an interior of the flexible fluid conduit;
• and
• a tip member removably coupled to the flexible fluid conduit, the tip member having an interior in fluid communication with the interior of the flexible fluid conduit and a first end having an opening in fluid communication with the interior of the tip member, the opening of the first end of the tip member being smaller than the plant tissue explants to prevent the plant tissue explants from entering the interior of the tip member when a negative pressure is present in the interior of the flexible fluid conduit and the tip member, the tip member further includes at least one vent passage along an exterior of the tip member and in fluid communication with the surrounding environment and the interior the tip member, wherein when the vent passage is not in fluid communication with the surrounding environment the negative pressure in the tip member is increased compared to when the vent passage is in fluid communication with the surrounding environment.