The invention provides a process for at least semi-automated plant tissue culture propagation comprising: providing plant tissue culture containing a large number of densely packed meristematic areas, automatically separating and thinning the tissue into small clusters of meristematic tissues, bulk transporting the separated tissue aseptically to a separating apparatus wherein the tissue is washed and propagules of substantially uniform size and substantially free of phytotoxic cell debris are obtained, aspetically transporting the propagules to a culture vessel and distributing the propagules on the surface of a culture medium. The culture medium is contained in a plant tissue culture vessel provided with a substantially flat fine screening element elevated above the inner bottom surface of the vessel, the vessel being sterilizable, substantially sealable and adapted for growing plant tissue cultures supported on the surface of the screening element in optimal contact with culture medium filling the vessel to the level of the screening element, the screening element being sized to permit the passage of the culture medium therethrough while retaining the tissue culture on the surface thereof.
