DEVELOPMENT OF IN VITRO SOMATIC EMBRYOS FROM MUSA spp. cv EMBUL AND KOLIKUTTU (AAB GROUP)

Abstract

The study compares somatic embryo development in two local cultivars of Musa (Embul and Kolikuttu - AAB group). Meristematic cells on 1 basic Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 2,4-D (0.2 mg/L) and BAP (1.25 mg/L) results in direct induction of embryo cells without involvement of callus. A physical separation of embryogenic cells by a 'thick' wall is the first stage in somatic embryo development. The group of cells surrounded by a thick wall is then released as globules. Upon successive transfer to two liquid MS culture media, initially with ABA (1.25 mg/L), and secondly without any growth regulators, the globules developed into bipolar somatic embryos. There is no significant difference in somatic embryo formation in the two cultivars tested. The development pattern of the somatic embryos appears to be the same as in Musa cv Bluggoe (ABB) except for the time of proembryo initiation and formation.