In vitro Micropropagation of Apple Banana

Advantages

* Mass propagation.

* Disease and pest – free plants.

* Easier to handle plants.

* Uniform field plant growth.

Disadvantages

* Initially, more expensive.

* Initially, slower growth in the field.

* In vitro problems.

Objectives

* Identify problems related to micropropagation and acclimatization.

* Conduct research to reduce or eliminate problems.

Problems Identified to Date

* Use of field grown corms for explant material is labor intensive.

* Explant contamination.

* Explant release of phenolics.

* Caulogenic response.

Addressing Problems

Field / greenhouse preparation offield grown corms.

Laboratory preparation of field grown corms.

Sterile water rinse

Greenhouse preparation of tissue cultured plants.

Laboratory preparation of tissue cultured plants.

Sterile water rinse

Explant contamination

Explant release of phenolics

FS M&S w/ 22.5 µM BA

½ M&S w/o BA

Caulogenic response

Influence of topping and root removal

22 µM BA

Topped / no roots

Intact0 BA

Topped / no rootsIntact

* An increase in BA resulted in a decrease in rhizogenesis.

* An increase in BA resulted in an increase in leaf chlorosis.

* An increase in BA did not promote caulogenesis.

44 µM BA

Topped / no rootsIntact

Rhizogenesis of topped plantlets as influenced by BA

0 BA 22 µM BA 44 µM BA0123456789

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6-Benzylamino purine (BA) Concs.

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Summary Pertaining to problems observed

Preparation of field grown corms is labor intensive.

Use micropropagated plants as stock material.

Explant contamination.Air dry mother plants. Reduce explantsize to 10 mm or smaller and disinfect w/ LD.

Phenolics released from explants.Use ½ M&S and no regulators for initial explanting.

Current Research

* Altering exogenous plant regulators as a means of promoting caulogenesis.

* Altering endogenous plant regulators by decapitation as a means of promoting caulogenesis.

Future Research

* Develop an economical photoautotrophic culture medium.

* Develop an economical acclimatization protocol.

Questions? mtanabe@hawaii.edu