Micropropagation and Assessment of Genetic Stability of Musa sp. cv. Williams using RAPD and SRAP Markers.

THE PRESENT study was conducted to investigate the effect of different concentrations of plant growth regulators on a commercial scale and true-to-type micropropagation of Musa sp., cv. Williams. In addition, assessment of the genetic stability of micropropagated plants using RAPD and SRAP markers. Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with BAP cytokinin and NAA auxin (3.0+0.2mg/l) was found to be the most suitable combination. It gave the highest shoot number per explant; 7.6, 8.4 and 11.2 after 10, 20 and 30 days, respectively. The longest shoots; 4.2, 5.4 and 6cm were obtained on the same media after 10, 20 and 30 days sculturing, respectively. The highest number of well-developed roots (10.4 roots per shoot) was scored for rooting media supplemented with 3mg/l IAA after 20 days culturing. Rooted plantlets were then transferred to pots and grown in the greenhouse followed by successful transfer to the soil. After the seventh sub-culture, the clonal fidelity among the micropropagated plantlets was assessed by RAPD and SRAP markers. Ten RAPD primers generated 38 bands, while four SRAP primers amplified 16 bands. All generated bands were monomorphic among the micropropagated plants compared to mother plant; except primers me1+em2 combination generated only one polymorphic band. In vitro micropropagation protocol reported herein could be served as a commercial method for large scale production of disease-free and genetically stable banana.