Optimization of tissue culture protocols for mass propagation of banana cv. grand naine

Abstract:

An expert panel convened by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research recently estimated that India needs 500 million disease-free banana plantlets annually, yet conventional propagation meets barely 10% of that demand. This research optimised tissue culture protocols for mass propagation of banana cv. Grand Naine at Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, during 2022-2023. Shoot tip explants from sword suckers were cultured on MS medium supplemented with varying concentrations of BAP (2-6 mg/L) and kinetin (1-3 mg/L). BAP at 4 mg/L produced the highest multiplication rate (9.3 shoots per explant at subculture 4). Rooting was best on half-strength MS with IBA at 1.5 mg/L (91% rooting, 7.4 roots per shoot). Hardened plantlets showed 92.4% field survival. The optimised protocol can produce approximately 4,000 plantlets from a single sucker within 8 months.