In Vitro Propagation Of Medicinally Valuable Traditional Banana Cultivar, musa acuminata cv. Matti by shoot tip culture

Abstract

Matti is an important medicinally valuable traditionalbanana variety of southern parts of Tamil Nadu in India. In order to popularize the variety, the propagule availability is a major constraint and micropropagation is a promising technique for mass production. The sword suckers were collected from Pechiparai, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu and were thoroughly washed and sterilized with various antibiotics and chemicals. The sterilization protocol using ampicillin 100mgl-1 and 4% sodium hypochlorite was superior in producing 87.5% contamination free cultures and the survival rate was 81.3%. The sterilized shoot tip explants inoculated in MS+BAP 2mgl-1+ NAA 0.1mgl-1 media recorded faster shoot initiation. Multiple shoot formation was efficient in the proliferation media, MS+BAP 4mg-1+NAA 0.05mg-1. The root initiation was earlier in half MS media with IBA 0.5mgl-1 and IAA 0.5mg-1. The in vitro regenerated plantlets were subjected to acclimatization in substrate containing cocopeat, farm yard manure and sand in 1:1:1 ratio and 100% survival was observed. Primary hardened plants recorded the plant height of 6.9cm and during secondary hardening, the plantlets reached the height of 10.8cm. The hardened plants were then transferred to field showing normal growth. This in vitro regeneration protocol for banana cv. Matti can be used for micropropagation in order to produce plantlets for dissemination.