Tissue culture greatly eliminates the possibility of pathogens, and allows for very rapid propagation. The process is frequently used instead of quarantine for material exported, or imported, between countries. Diseases that might be in the original material are eliminated by the tissue culture process at the early stages of introduction, thus shortening any quarantine period. For example, in the late 1980s, Rio Red grapefruit was in high demand in Spain. One single bud stick was introduced into Spain from Texas, and subjected to the tissue culture procedure in January 1988, and 10,300 healthy buds were released to Spanish nurseries in May 1989 as a result of that one bud stick. In tissue culture, test tubes serve as a substitute for greenhouses located in isolated areas. (Citrus Health Management) - Millet (1,379-)