A simple and low-cost strategy for micropropagation of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

With the aim of transferring micropropagation techniques to cassava seed producers, a simple and low-cost medium for in vitro micropropagation was developed. CM6740-7 cassava cultivar from CIAT was used as planting material. Commercially available nutrients were used in order to substitute the propagation media components. A Hydro Agri's fertilizer (12-11-18/3 (MgO-EDTA)) was used as a substitute for Murashige and Skoog macro and micro nutrients. Additionally, table sugar and molasses were used as a source of carbohydrates and vitamins. Radixone 3AS from Praquim C.A. was used as a source of auxins and activol as a source of gibberellic acid. Numbers of roots and leaves, height and dry weight of plantlets was determined for each treatment and compared with a conventional micropropagation media. For all the parameter measured, the plantlets obtained on the fully substituted media showed a good growth performance. Canonical biplot analysis showed that this media was especially good for the number of nodes (multiplication rate) in 60-day-old cultured plants. The designed medium is simple, easy to prepare and allows a low-cost strategy to obtain a high quality in vitro micropropagated cassava plants and its ready availability may have an impact on the production of planting material of cassava.