Enhanced Secondary Somatic Embryogenesis in Suspension Culture of Four Diploid Banana Cultivars from Kerala

ABSTRACT

Secondary somatic embryogenesis was observed in the suspension culture of bract-derived banana calli in the presence of liquid Murashige and Skoog medium with additives such as glutamine (0.68–34.21 µM), biotin (0.40–20.46 µM), or ascorbic acid (0.56–28.38 µM) along with malt extract (100 mg/l). After the initiation of homogenous cell suspension, fully developed somatic embryos were observed after 5th subculture in the four cultivars. Somatic embryos were successfully regenerated in basal MS medium and were transplanted after fifth week. After 5th subculture, the frequency of somatic embryos increased in each culture flask. Maximum number of somatic embryos were observed in cv. Sannachenkadali (46.12 ± 0.85^a) when cultured in liquid MS medium supplemented with biotin (8.18 µM) along with malt extract (100 mg/l), in followed by cv. Matti (44.75 ± 1.19^a) having (AA) genome. SEM analysis revealed the presence of secondary somatic embryos on the surface of primary somatic embryos in each culture and it attributed high frequency of somatic embryogenesis. Addition of biotin along with malt extract increased the frequency of secondary somatic embryogenesis in the diploid banana cultivars.

KEYWORDS:

• Secondary somatic embryo
• SEM
• suspension
• diploid
• Musa