Development of an efficient micropropagation technique for Musa cv. Udhayam (ABB)

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to devise an efficient method of micropropagation for a high yielding but recalcitrant banana cv. Udhayam (Pisang Awak, ABB) using shoot tip explants. Virus-indexed shoot tips were established in medium comprising full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal salts and vitamins, supplemented with 50 mg l-1 ascorbic acid, 100 mg l-1 myo-inositol and 4.0 mg l-1 benzylamino purine (BAP). Among the various media tested for shoot proliferation, MS medium with BAP (3.0 mg l-1) and 5% coconut water (CW) was found optimum as it produced the maximum number of 6.3 multiple shoots in a minimum period of 7.5 days. Rooting was achieved in the MS medium fortified with indole butyric acid (IBA) 0.5 mg l-1 + naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) 1.0 mg l-1 + activated charcoal (AC) 250 mg l-1. Fully hardened planting material ensured high survival upon field transplantation. The development of a complete tissue culture protocol also includes the optimization of media and environment for successful primary and secondary hardening which has also been accomplished in the study.