Induction of Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration in the Banana cultivar ‘Kluei Namwa’ (Musa sp. ABB)

Abstract

The study was conducted at the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA). The objective of study was to investigate the efficiency of different auxins and auxin concentrations inducing somatic embryogenesis and to identify suitable medium formulation for optimum germination of somatic embryos in the Thai banana cultivar ‘Kluei Namwa’ (Musa sp. ABB group). Complete plantlets were regenerated via somatic embryogenesis from shoot apex explants prepared from in-vitro propagated plants cultured on MS medium containing different concentrations of 2,4-D (dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) and picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid). Picloram at a concentration of 8 mg/l resulted the highest embryogenic calli while none of the explanted cultured on 2,4-D produced any callus. A suspension culture was successfully established by transferring embryogenic calli on to a multiplication medium (half strength MS medium, MS vitamins, 10 mg/l ascorbic acid, 0.22 mg/ zeatin, 30 g/l sucrose) supplemented with 8 mg/l picloram. Among different regeneration media formulations tested, a medium containing 5mg/l NAA 20 mg/l maltose 50 mg/l inositol, 0.25 g/l glucose and 0.25 g/l sucrose supplemented with 500 mg/l cassaminoacid was found to be the best formulation resulting healthy vigorous plantlets.