Articles
High-value application of cassava starch in root crop micropropagation for sustainable seed systems in developing countries
Article number
1179_45
Pages
293 – 298
Language
English
Abstract
Despite the high cost of micropropagation, the use of tissue-cultured planting materials is now widely practiced in several crop production ventures in developing countries.
One of the high-cost items in micropropagation is the agar as gelling agent of the culture medium, which is imported.
This study examined the feasibility of using locally available cassava starch as a low-cost agar substitute in the micropropagation of purple yam and cassava.
Starches from two cassava cultivars (‘Lakan-1’ and ‘Rayong-5’) were tested at different levels.
Results showed normal growth and development of purple yam nodal cultures at all levels of starch used.
However, at 8% starch, the medium was so soft that the nodal tissues were submerged, thereby causing a delay in shoot and root growth.
Starch concentrations of 9% in both cultivars appeared to be optimal for yam, wherein culture responses were comparable to that of the usual 0.7% agar.
However, for cassava, regardless of concentration, both starches were found to be unsuitable, because the cultures did not exhibit normal growth and development.
Cost analysis of the use of 9% cassava starch revealed a more than 10-fold saving relative to the use of 0.7% agar.
One of the high-cost items in micropropagation is the agar as gelling agent of the culture medium, which is imported.
This study examined the feasibility of using locally available cassava starch as a low-cost agar substitute in the micropropagation of purple yam and cassava.
Starches from two cassava cultivars (‘Lakan-1’ and ‘Rayong-5’) were tested at different levels.
Results showed normal growth and development of purple yam nodal cultures at all levels of starch used.
However, at 8% starch, the medium was so soft that the nodal tissues were submerged, thereby causing a delay in shoot and root growth.
Starch concentrations of 9% in both cultivars appeared to be optimal for yam, wherein culture responses were comparable to that of the usual 0.7% agar.
However, for cassava, regardless of concentration, both starches were found to be unsuitable, because the cultures did not exhibit normal growth and development.
Cost analysis of the use of 9% cassava starch revealed a more than 10-fold saving relative to the use of 0.7% agar.
Authors
V.Z. Acedo, N.G. Hinay, M.M. Binongo, J.Q. Antona
Keywords
gelling agent, agar substitute, tissue culture, Manihot esculenta Crantz, Dioscorea alata L
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