Micropropagation of bamboo species through axillary shoot proliferation

Abstract

The propagation of bamboos is done with seeds, clump divisions, and rhizome and culm cuttings. However, gregarious flowering, low seed viability, high costs, problems facing long-distance transportation of vegetative propagules, and poor efficiency of plant production, compelled development of alternative propagation methods (Gielis et al., 2001). In vitro micropropagation constitutes a feasible alternative to mass-propagate individuals in this plant group. Somatic embryogenesis (Lin et al., 2004 and references therein) and propagation using axillary buds (Jiménez et al., 2006; Ramanayake et al., 2006 and references therein) have effectively been used to multiply bamboos in vitro. The latter procedure has been implemented successfully in several bamboo species producing high multiplication rates. According to Gielis and Oprins (2002), this method will be of choice for mass scale propagation of bamboos because the regenerated plants are genetically uniform. Since the diversity of bamboos is so vast, it is difficult to present a unique step-by-step protocol for micropropagation of all plants classified within this group. Gielis and Oprins (2002) indicate that they have succeeded in developing a common micropropagation protocol for at least 60 temperate and tropical bamboos through axillary branching, but commercial interests have made the procedure elusive for the use among the scientific community. The protocol described in this chapter is based on our experience with Guadua angustifolia and Dendrocalamus giganteus, two giant members of this tribe. However, with the aim of producing a general protocol that could be followed up for propagation of other bamboo species, additional information, reported for other species, is also included.