An efficient protocol for commercial micropropagation of malanga (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott)using temporary immersion.

Temporary immersion systems allow semi-automatization and reduce production costs during micropropagation on a commercial scale. The objective of this study was to evaluate temporary immersion (TI)as a new technique for commercial micropropagation of malanga (Colocasia esculenta). The effect of the semi-solid and liquid medium using the Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB)was compared. For the TIB culture system, the immersion frequency and volume of culture medium per explant on shoot development were evaluated. At 30 d of culture, the number of shoots per explant, shoot length and number of leaves per shoot were scored. In addition, the chlorophyll content during multiplication and survival during acclimatization were evaluated in the different culture systems. The results showed that the highest shoot production, shoot length and number of leaves per shoot were obtained in TI with an immersion frequency of 2?min every 4?h and with a volume of culture medium of 25 and 50?mL per explant. An increase in chlorophyll content in TI was observed with an immersion frequency every 4?h and with a culture medium volume of 50 and 100?mL per explant. Regarding the percentage of survival during acclimatization, no significant differences were observed between culture systems, immersion frequencies and volume of culture medium per explant. In conclusion, the evaluated immersion system is an alternative for commercial micropropagation of C. esculenta.