Bamboo<em> in vitro</em> propagation

Abstract

The genus Bambusa represents one of the largest renewable natural resources. Due to its excellent physical and mechanical properties, resistance to insect attacks, beauty and diversity of applications It is a valuable economic alternative that has helped to mitigate the social problems of the countryside in Cuba. Traditional bamboo propagation is affected by long intervals of flowering, the limited stock of plant material, the low percentages of rooting and the limited existence of propagules. These elements are handicaps for mass propagation of bamboos. For these reasons, tissue culture techniques are fast and reliable for the propagation of bamboo through organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. However, there is still gap about the various constraints affecting in vitro propagation of bamboos such as microbial contamination in the establishment phase, low multiplication rates and rooting, as well as low rates of ex vitro survival. The aim of this study was to state generaly the main scientific observations on the use of tissue culture techniques for in vit ro propagation of several bamboo species. Key words: bamboo propagation, organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis