CBN-V Video Archives - S7-29
Conservation and Genetic Improvement of Indonesian Cassava Genotypes Using Biotechnology as a Tool

Sudarmonowati E.

R&D Centre for Biotechnology – Lipi, J Raya, Bogor KM46 Cibinong 1691 Indonesia          s_enny@hotmail.com

        Despite being one of the major cassava growers, the use of biotechnology to preserve and genetically improve Indonesian cassava genotypes has been very limited, with higher research priority being given to other food crop such as rice and soybean, and due to the fact that conventional methods has been playing an important role. Research on certain aspects, however, has been conducted at R&D Centre for Biotechnology Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). Aspects studied using biotechnology include regeneration using tissue culture technique, cryopreservation, development of procedure for assessing gene diversity, and genetic transformation using GUS marker gene and selectable marker genes such as nptII gene. Regeneration of plantlets derived from multiplication shoot, from cryopreservation and genetic transformation were studied. In addition to lab observation, those regenerated from tissue culture were compared in the field in terms of yield and growth performance. Of 5 genotypes studied for cryopreservation, only 2 could survive after immersion in liquid nitrogen, although the percentage of survival was still low (6.7% - 16%), while 5 genotypes showed GUS expression. Different cryopreservation procedures, different techniques of transformation (particle bombardment and Agrobacterium tumefaciens) and strains used were compared. Further studies to optimize the results as well as evaluation of genetic variation of Indonesian cassava genotypes are prerequisite

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