Apparently repeated meristem propagation affects plant quality - how does this work?

[Ray]

If you clone something and are successful at replicating and achieving a nice glob of protocorms, you can divide that clump and continue growing the divisions (agitated to prevent differentiation), dividing them again and repeating that, theoretically indefinitely.

I suppose, however, there are chances of DNA replication errors with each new cell, so over time, with accumulated shifts, the resulting cells are no longer identical with the original, conceivably getting farther away with each subsequent generation.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Ray

I suppose, however, there are chances of DNA replication errors with each new cell, so over time, with accumulated shifts, the resulting cells are no longer identical with the original, conceivably getting farther away with each subsequent generation.

This was my thought as well. Any time cells divide, mutations/errors in replication are possible. Initially, the changes may be minor and have little consequence. However, over time, as mutations/errors accumulate it is possible for a more noticeable ... and detrimental ... set of changes to develop.