CBN-V Video Archives - S7-25
Introduction of 18 Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Cultivars for their in vitro Conservation

Rojas, N.¹ and Y. Morales²

1. I.A. El Vallecito. Casilla 702, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
2. Fundación Amigos de la Naturaleza
Casilla 2241. Santa Cruz, Bolivia ymorales@fan-bo.org

        In Bolivia, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is mainly produced in four large tropical areas: Pando-Beni, Yungas, Santa Cruz and the Chapare. In general these areas are separated by undisturbed forests, and because of their geographical isolation, there is a tendency to plant different local varieties in each of them. There are also ethnic groups of different origins that live in these areas and consume cassava in greatly varying ways. Collection and conservation work was carried out in Bolivia in a variety of gardens at research centers like El Vallecito; however, there are very few studies on the in vitro conservation of these clones. Morales performed related work with the introduction and in vitro conservation of the Bolivian cassava germplasm maintained at El Vallecito. In the current study, 18 cassava cultivars maintained in the field at El Vallecito were introduced in vitro for later conservation in the germplasm bank. For in vitro introduction, the CIAT initiation medium (1980) and the IDEA reproduction medium (1993) were evaluated. In the initial stage, using the CIAT medium (complete MS 0.04 mg/l of BAP; 0.05 mg/l of GA3; 0.02 mg/l of NAA), only 7 cultivars survived, possibly because of the small size of the meristems. During the development phase, the 7 varieties that were able to be introduced responded well to the IDEA medium (complete MS 0,02 mg/l of NAA and 0.05 mg/l of GA3), where normal development of the elongation, the leaves and roots was observed.

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