IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF RED BANANA (MUSA ACUMINATA)

Abstract

The investigation was carried out on effects of cytokinins viz Benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (Kn) in different concentrations (i.e 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg L-1) in combination with an auxin viz., Indole acetic acid (IAA) (1mg L-1) on shoot proliferation and the effect of auxins viz., Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in different concentrations (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg L-1) in combination with Activated charcoal (2mg L-1) on rooting of Red banana in vitro were investigated at Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Division of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendr, Bangalore during 2011-2012. Among the treatments, MS medium supplemented with 1mg L-1 IAA and 4 mg L-1 BAP produced the highest number of shoots/explant (8.80) while the least number of shoots (2.60) was observed with MS medium without cytokinins. On the other hand the greatest number of roots (4.90) and longest roots (8.99 cm) were induced by MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg L-1 IBA and 2.0 g L-1 activated charcoal while the least number of roots (2.80) and shortest roots (4.981 cm) were observed with MS medium+1.0 mg L-1 NAA+2.0 g L-1 activated charcoal + and MS medium +0.5 mg L-1 NAA+2.0 g L-1 activated charcoal respectively.