Commercial Scale Micropropagation of Sugarcane: Constraints and Remedies

Abstract

Tissue culture techniques are now becoming important tools of crop improvement and rapid multiplication of selected clones. There has been considerable interest in applying these techniques in breeding, propagation, disease elimination, rejuvenation of older varieties, development of clones suitable for abiotic and biotic stresses, conservation of genetic resources etc. In vitro micropropagation is now drawing special attention for multiplication of new varieties on large scale in comparatively shorter period of time in several crops including sugarcane. Despite several advantages of applying micropropagation technique in sugarcane such as quick multiplication of newly released varieties; rejuvenation of old deteriorated varieties; production of disease free seed; easy transportation of seed material; elimination of viruses; high cane productivity and sugar yield etc., this technique is not gaining popularity up to the desired extent. There are several constraints like microbial contamination, phenolics secretion from cultured explants, shoot vitrification, thin canes in tissue culture raised crops, high cost of production and appearance of some variants in micropropagated population. The present article describes some of the problems encountered during in vitro micropropagation of sugarcane on commercial scale. Though some problems have now been resolved to considerable extents which have been described in this review. However, some constraints still require intensive research work to be resolved so that a safe and efficient exploitation of this technique can be ensured in sugarcane seed production programme.