Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of nutrient media constituents on growth and development of banana plantlets produced in vitro. Apical buds were excised, disinfected, and cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) nutrient medium supplemented with organic compounds at three culture stages. In stage 1, the role of sucrose (15 to 60%), inositol (0 to 1000 mg/l) and white’s organics (×0.25 to 1.25) on banana plantlets growth was assessed. At the second stage, studies were done on the role of 2 to 5 mg/l of benzyl adenine(BA), longitudinal splitting of apical buds, and the physiological age (1 to 3 months) of banana plantlets. At the rooting phase, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (1 mg/l) was supplemented in the presence or absence of BA (7 mg/l). Initially, sucrose concentration at 3.0% significantly promoted plantlet growth. During bud proliferation stage, the addition of inositol and white's organics was non-significantly effective. BA concentration at 7.0 mg/l significantly promoted bud proliferation both at complete and splitted plantlets. However, splitted plantlets were higher in bud proliferation.

Key words: Banana, nutrient medium, in vitro culture, buds, splitting techniques.