Control y prevención de la contaminación microbiana en la micropropagación de plantas

Abstract

Microbial contamination is one of the major problems for plant micropropagators in the world because it causes big losses. Bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi are generally reported as contaminants and man, environment, equipment and explants are indicated as the principal source of these contaminants. Microbial contamination is a multicausal problem since the microorganism can be introduced both with the initial explant and in the laboratory and mites, trips and ants can spread it. The negative effects of microbial contaminants on plantlets may be considerable if it is taking in consideration that microorganism compete with plants for the nutrient and cause direct or indirect damage by tissue colonization or secretion into the medium of toxic metabolites. There are ways to prevent and control contamination, but it is necessary to know which microorganism is involved and its source. For control of microbial contamination plant propagators use different ways such as increase of aseptic techniques, stock plant treatment, subculture of plantlets in media with antimicrobial compounds of natural or synthetic origin, etc. Each plant tissue culture laboratory has particular characteristics that differentiate it from the rest. It is necessary that all operation and the areas where microorganism can be introduced are systematically verified and controlled. After this the application of rapid and sure methods for the detection
of contamination and the use of different alternatives for its control will lead to more efficient conditions of productivity and will reduce the negative consequences of these phenomena.