CBN-V Video Archives - S7-10
Rapid Propagation of Cassava Planting Material by Temporary Immersion Bioreactors

Escobar R.H.¹, L. Muñoz¹, J. Tohme¹ and W. Roca²

1. Biotechnology Research Unit, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), A.A. 6713, Cali, Colombia R.ESCOBAR@CGIAR.ORG
2. CIP, Apartado 1558, Lima, Peru

        Cassava has been considered the most important alternative crop since it is the only crop that yields acceptably under marginal conditions, with minimum inputs.  Demand for cassava planting material is high and conventional methods of propagation don’t satisfy the needs.  We are adapting RITA® to scale-up and produce enough cassava planting material of desired, indexed, commercial clones, using nodes as initial explants.  Different immersion periods and growth regulators were tested.  Using TDZ at low concentrations, combined with short immersion periods, resulted in better propagation rates than those obtained with BAP.  We increased propagation rates up to 1:6 to 1:10, depending upon the genotype, which was higher if compared with rates of normal propagation on solid media (1:3-4).  The method is being adjusted with ten commercial clones.  In some cases hyperhydricity occurs.  Longer elapse times between immersion periods reduces its occurrence, although it also reduces propagation rates.  Plants produced with this system were transferred to the greenhouse and compared with plants produced on solid media.  No morphological differences were observed.  We are also adapting this methodology to improve somatic embryo induction with crops such as Brachiaria, rice and rice anthers and to improve FEC regeneration as support for cassava transformation programs roots, flour or alcohol.

View The Poster (Adobe Acrobat PDF)

For further information, see spoken presentation Escobar et al. S7-07

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