Mini-review: plant micropropagation using temporary immersion bioreactors with emphasis on sugarcane and potato

Lorenzo J.C.; Tapia y Figueroa M.D.L. · Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (2025) · DOI: 10.1007/s11240-025-03276-z

Resumen

Temporary immersion bioreactors (TIBs) have revolutionized plant micropropagation by providing an efficient, cost-effective alternative to traditional methods. By periodically immersing plant tissues in liquid culture media, TIBs optimize nutrient absorption and gas exchange, significantly enhancing growth rates and plant quality, particularly for commercially and ecologically valuable species such as Aristotelia chilensis, Coffea arabica, and Musa spp. Recent advancements, including refined immersion protocols, have further improved plant development while reducing production costs, demonstrating TIBs’ adaptability for sustainable agriculture. Beyond micropropagation, TIBs support secondary metabolite production, and conservation of endangered species, expanding their role in biotechnology. However, challenges such as high setup costs, complex maintenance, and species-specific limitations suggest areas for continued improvement. The versatility of TIBs is evident in their applications for sugarcane and potato cultivation. A two-step protocol for sugarcane, combining paclobutrazol and gibberellic acid, has doubled multiplication rates and reduced production costs by 46%, with field studies confirming comparable performance to conventional methods. In Peru, TIBs have improved potato microtuber quality, producing more tubers per plant by harvest compared to conventional methods. We focused our attention on sugarcane and potato because we had previously conducted original research on these crops, allowing us to contribute firsthand insights and validated protocols to this Mini-Review. These advancements showcase TIBs as efficient, scalable solutions for addressing agricultural demands. While there remain opportunities for refinement, TIBs represent a pivotal innovation, merging sustainability with biotechnology to meet the increasing global need for large-scale and cost-efficient plant production systems. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina