Strategy of technological innovation to use somatic embryogenesis on semisolid culture media in <em>Musa</em> spp. and the economic impact

Abstract

Somatic embryogenesis as a propagation technology has been recognized by many authors as the future generation of plant regeneration on mass scale due to the advantages in production efficiency. However, specialized scientific literature has stated the problems faced by various experiences in the use of this technology. It highlights the presence of off-types plants and the few studies of plants in the field, which has limited its application in the in vitro plant production at a commercial scale. The Instituto de Biotecnología de las Plantas (IBP) developed a strategy of technological innovation that has been used for the past three years in the production at commercial scale of more than 300 000 in vitro plants of plantains and bananas (`Grande naine', `Dwarf Cavendish','FHIA 18' and 'FHIA 21'). Based on that experience, this paper aimed to show the economic advantages using somatic embryogenesis for plantain and banana propagation in semisolid culture media. Comparative analysis of the main concepts of production cost in somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis werw used. Results demostrated that the use of somatic embryogenesis as a mass production of plants technology is viable, efficient and a key tool for food production. Keywords: banana and plantain, biofactory, scaling technology.