Large-Scale Micropropagation of Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks.) in a Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB)

The cultivation of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) is of economic interest because vanillin is extracted from the fruits of this species. Vanillin is a natural flavoring highly valued in the food market. However, there is a short supply of propagules available for establishing commercial plantations and good-quality plants with phytosanitary certification. Plant tissue culture represents a viable option to supply large amounts of healthy plants to vanilla producers. In addition, the use of temporary immersion systems will allow commercial scale-up and the establishment of biofactories dedicated to in vitro vanilla propagation. This chapter describes a large-scale micropropagation protocol for vanilla using temporary immersion bioreactors (TIB).