Cell suspension cultures of Musa. cv embul (AAB), mondan (ABB) and kolikuttu (AAB)

Abstract

Three explants (shoot tip, anthers and fruit pulp) of three cultivars of Musa were tested for callus production under different culture conditions and for the development of cell cultures from the callus. It was observed that callus is produced from all three explants of the tested cultivars, both in liquid and semi-solid, under different culture conditions. There was a variation in the morphology of callus and the type of cells in culture. It could be revealed that factors, namely, the explant, growth regulators and light affect the cell types in suspesion, irrespective of the cultivar. Shoot tip of all 3 cultivars produced an embryogenic callus an cell cultures while fruit pulp and anthers produced callus and cell cultures with predominantly parenchyma.