The in vitro propagation of plants with Temporary Immersion Systems. An Appropriate Technology for sustainable agriculture

La propagación in vitro de plantas con Sistemas de Inmersión Temporal. Una Tecnología Apropiada para la agricultura sustentable

Abstract

In recent years, agriculture has experienced a profound process of transformation that has been reflected in an intense level of industrialization accompanied by the subsequent incorporation of technological advances in production processes. However, this process has reflected a very disparate character as it has also led to a very heterogeneous agriculture. Particularly in the case of our developing countries, there is a need to produce more high-quality food without disrupting the balance of ecosystems, strengthening territorial and local development, generating new jobs, thus reducing migration. massive movement of the rural population to urban areas. An appropriate and appropriable technology is one that can be successfully applied by small farmers, promoting greater yield from productive land and increasing crop productivity. In order to achieve this purpose, it is required, among other things, to implement modern biotechnologies that are simple, efficient, low-cost and replicable that allow improving the quality of the production processes of small producers. The in vitro propagation of plants by traditional methods satisfies several of these requirements but requires specialized personnel, laboratories equipped for such purposes and expensive inputs. Bioreactor technology called Temporary Immersion Systems (TIS) is a viable option that offers considerable advantages for the in vitro propagation of plants under the approach of appropriate technologies. This work analyzes some relevant aspects of the design and application of SIT in agricultural biotechnology, material that will serve as documentary input for the design and construction of a low-cost SIT in the laboratories of the Andrés Bello Catholic University.