MICROPROPAGATION OF SUGARCANE VARIETIES GROWN IN MÉXICO

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is one of the most important field crops grown in México. In 2014, 828,609 ha were sown and accounted for 3.7 % of the total national cultivated area. However, diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses and phytoplasms are one of the main challenges for cultivation. This research developed a micropropagation system of three varieties to produce entire, healthy plants for pathogenicity studies. A system of clonal propagation of ITV 92-1424, Laica 82-2220 and Q28-2 varieties was developed. Plant regeneration was achieved via organogenesis from apical meristems dissected from six months old mother plants. Shoots were induced to multiplication in MS medium supplemented with concentrations of 2.5 to 7.5 uM BA. Shoot multiplication was achieved with the same concentrations of BA in combination with 1 µM IAA. In vitro rooting of the three varieties was efficient in the MS medium with half salt concentration. Acclimation of plants was achieved at six weeks with 95 to 98 % survival in a mixture of peat and perlite (1:1 v/v).