Temporary Immersion Bioreactors: Establishment of Cassava

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz-Euphorbiaceae) is one of the most important crops for world agriculture. It is the main source of many family’s calorie intake and contributes toward food security. Its cultivation is necessitated sterile vegetative propagules with essential physiological and genetic quality, which can be obtained by plant tissue culture techniques. However, the maintenance of in vitro propagation processes requires automation, making large-scale production feasible. This work aimed at developing protocols for the establishment of cassava cultivation in Temporary Immersion Bioreactors (TIBs). Two nutrient media (MS medium reduced to half-strength of the salt concentration and the same formulation plus 4,43µM of 6-Benzylaminopurine [BAP]) and different culture cycles were evaluated in Bioreactors (15 minutes of immersion and 4 hours of stationary phase [15M4H]; 15 minutes of immersion and 8 hours of stationary phase [15M8H]). The establishment of culture in bioreactors was promising. Based on our results, the use of MS medium without growth regulators was more effective for shoot formation; there were differences in the 15M4H cycle when growth regulators were used. However, the 15M8H cycle had better performance in both treatments- with or without growth regulators. The use of culture medium without BAP led to better rooting; calli formation increased when BAP was used. The present research investigation indicated the use of MS medium reduced to half- strength the salt concentration without the presence of growth regulator and the use of the culture cycle constituted by 15 minutes immersion and 8-hour intervals in stationary phase was effective for Cassava cultivation in TIBs.