Micropropagation of Selected Cassava Varieties (Manihot esculenta Crantz) from Meristem Culture

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Date

2009-07

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) is a perennial woody herb which has been mainly cultivated in different parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America for its edible starchy roots. Due to high seed dormancy and very slow germination rate farmers normally practice propagation of cassava by stem cuttings which has led to accumulation of viral and bacterial diseases that reduce productivity and may cause loss of superior genotypes. The objective of this study was to establish a protocol for in vitro micropropagation of selected cassava varieties (‘Qulle’ and ‘Kello’). For this experiment solid MS medium supplemented with different BAP, GA3 and NAA combinations has been used to initiate the growth of meristems and shoot induction. All the meristems were responded to a medium with 5 mg/l BAP in combination with 1 mg/l GA3 and 0.01 mg/l NAA, but shoots from this treatment were bushy with abnormal phenotypic appearance. This might be due to supra-optimal amount of BAP. Morphologically normal appearance of shoots was observed in the growth initiation medium with 0.5 mg/l BAP, 1 mg/l GA3 and 0.01 mg/l NAA. Among different treatments used for multiplication purpose, 0.5 mg/l BAP in combination with 1 mg/l GA3 and 0.01 mg/l NAA was found to be the best; in this treatment a maximum of 27 shoots for ‘Qulle’ and 21 shoots for ‘Kello’ was obtained. In rooting experiment half and full strength MS media did not show statistical difference. Root induction potential of the two varieties increased with the increment of IBA concentration up to 1 mg/l. Of those shoots which were acclimatized in the greenhouse, 89.1% of ‘Qulle’ and 75% of ‘Kello’ survived. Key words/phrases: Cassava, Manihot esculenta, meristem, tissue culture

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Keywords

Cassava,, Manihot esculenta, meristem, tissue culture

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