Propagation methods in Babaco plants (Vasconcella x helbornii)

Abstract

Babaco, (Vasconcellea x helbornii syn Carica pentagona), is an endemic fruit to South of Ecuador and North of Peru, which is becoming very popular on the continuously expanding subtropical fruit market for a few years now. From the nutritional point of view, this fruit is very rich in fiber, it also has a good amount of vitamins, minerals and papain, an enzyme with great digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, due to the diseases that attack babaco plants and the sterile character of their fruits, exports have been significantly reduced being considered as an unprofitable agricultural production. New techniques in plant biotechnology as in vitro culture could make possible a massive production of free-pathogens babaco plants. In particular, somatic embryogenesis is a rapid way of obtaining genetically identical individuals which is also used in in vitro conservation of germplasm and plant genetic improvement. The present document aims to summarize the techniques of obtaining new plants of babaco and evidences the achievements obtained in somatic embryogenesis in the Caricaceae family up today.