In- Vitro Technology for Genetic Conservation of Banana--A Case Study

Abstract

The present communication deals with the various in-vitro techniques
attempted to conserve the germplasm of banana. The major aspects
included are rapid clonal propagation through meristem culture of several
cultivars belonging to different genomic constitutions, their medium-term
storage under minimal growth condition and finally somatic embryogenesis.
Rapid in-vitro multiplication of banana has been achieved by culturing the
explants in Murashige and Skoog's semi-solid basal medium supplemented
with low concentration of indole acetic acid and a fairly high level of benzyl
amino purine. The genomic constitution of the cultivar on one hand as well as
the concentration of benzyl amino purine in the medium on the other hand
seem to control the rate of multiplication of shoot cuds. Eventually, the
multiplication rate was greatly accelerated by increasing the concentration
of benzyl amino purine in the medium. However