New technique allows large-scale reproduction of bamboo

Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (DF) has just developed a protocol that allows the production of hundreds of bamboo seedlings from a single propagule. The technique to obtain this result is vegetative micropropagation, which guarantees not only multiplication on a large scale, but also the survival of the new plant during acclimatization, in addition to other advantages.

Through vegetative micropropagation in the laboratory, the producer can obtain, depending on the species, in just six months, 200 to 500 seedlings, all coming from a single propagule (part of the plant capable of multiplying or propagating it vegetatively).

In this way, the characteristics of the plant used as a source are maintained. In the conventional system, made by cutting part of the plant to make cuttings, production is considered more expensive, due to the need for greater physical space and seedling formation rates being lower. For the seedling to be used, it must have well-developed aerial and root parts.

“It’s a long time for anyone who needs propagation material”, comments Embrapa researcher Jonny Scherwinski-Pereira, responsible for developing the new protocol. He explains that the production of seedlings can also be done from seeds. However, as the bamboo flowering process is unknown in most cases, with periods of time almost always being very long between cycles, a lot of waiting is required, which makes the use of this type of material practically unfeasible to produce seedlings. “To give you an idea, in our research, we found that a species of bamboo from the Cerrado flourished in an interval of approximately seven years”, explains the scientist.

The researcher also says that seedlings made from cuttings are at risk of loss for different reasons – such as incomplete formation of the seedling and death during transplantation. Even the time of year can be an influencing factor in the answers. According to him, conventional processes are more appropriate for those who need a small number of seedlings. “The problem is obtaining large quantities. Imagine producing bamboo cuttings for 100 hectares. With stakes, production will be costly: it will require physical space, time and more labor. In laboratory production, the physical space is relatively small, the seedlings develop homogeneously in the field and, as they are made in the laboratory, the time of year and day-to-day conditions have little influence on this production”, comments the researcher.

Expanding market

Although the market for bamboo cultivation in Brazil recorded growth, ranging from the manufacture of household utensils, such as spoons, furniture to products for use in construction,  there was a gap in the production of seedlings on a large scale  – even with other techniques available. Now, with vegetative micropropagation in the laboratory ready to be adopted, the expectation is that both family farmers and large producers can count on greater availability of seedlings. The technique opens up space for biofactories, for example, to supply the material in greater quantities. “In recent years, we have seen that the demand for bamboo pieces has increased significantly, but the supply of raw materials seems insufficient if we were to use bamboo for all the uses it provides”, declares the researcher.

According to data from the Brazilian Association of Industry and Producers of Bamboo and Natural Fibers (Abrafibras), bamboo production in Brazil is present in at least 250 municipalities, with around 40 thousand rural producers cultivating the grass, with most of them small. The estimated annual production is 400 thousand tons, which supplies industries and individuals.

The main producers are Pernambuco, Piauí, Maranhão, Bahia, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Acre, a state where there is the largest reserve of native bamboo in the world, with 4,5 million hectares, according to data from Abrafibras.

How the technique works

The production of bamboo seedlings in the laboratory begins with the introduction of a small propagule containing at least one growth bud into an artificial culture medium, under a controlled light and temperature environment.

After a few weeks, this propagule sprouts and, from this new sprout, a cycle of several multiplications is carried out until the necessary number of seedlings is obtained.

After this period, which can vary from one to several months, depending on the number of seedlings you want to produce, the plants formed in the laboratory are taken to greenhouses or nurseries, where they are planted in substrate to continue their growth.

The technique of multiplying plants in vitro is already well known and, using it, several species have been commercially multiplied, such as bananas, potatoes, strawberries, among others. However, for bamboo there is still little information that commercial laboratories produce seedlings under these conditions, which appears to be an important market to be explored in the near future.

Pereira says that production using this method can be carried out by small or large producers, biofactories, or even nurseries who already have a structure or are willing to set up a structure for the production of seedlings in the laboratory.

Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology offers an annual course on theoretical and practical applications of the technique, which can be used not only for bamboo, but for several other species. Also according to the researcher, the protocol for producing bamboo seedlings in the laboratory was developed to respond to the high demand in the production sector.

Those interested in the technique can contact Embrapa's Citizen Assistance Service (SAC): sac@embrapa.br.