Propagation of Banana by Shoot Tip Culture

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to test the effects of concentrations of MS inorganic mineral salts, glucose and growth regulators on growth and development of banana (Musa spp.) shoot tips explants derived from in vitro grown plantlets. A modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was used as basal medium. Among MS-salts strengths tested, full MS-salt strength (1X) was optimal for all parameters measured compared with other strengths tested. Glucose concentration of 4% and sucrose concentration of 3% (control) were better than the other concentrations glucose tested for growth and development of cultured shoot tips, and there was no significant difference between them The results revealed the importance of inclusion of kinetin (kin) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in nutrient media for banana shoot tip culture at relatively low concentrations, the best results for all parameters measured were obtained on medium containing 0.0mg/litre kin and 0.01 mg/litre NAA. The combination treatment of 0.3 mg /litre kin and 0.03 mg/litre NAA recorded the best results for mean shoot elongation compared with the other combination treatments tested, whereas the greatest mean number of roots was obtained with the combination of kin at 1.0 mg litre and NAA at 0.1mg/litre. The best results for mean root length were, however, obtained on nutrient medium exclusive of growth regulators. Well rooted plantlets were acclimatized and eventually established in soil under lath house conditions with maximum success rate recorded with those obtained on medium containing sucrose. The growth of these plants appeared normal and was vigorous