In vitro multiplication of some selected banana cultivars (Musa spp.) from India and their genetic fidelity using ISSR markers

In the present study, in vitro multiplication of three banana cultivars, viz., ‘Grand Naine’, ‘Monthan’ and ‘Red banana’, and genetic fidelity of regenerated plantlets have been taken up. The objective of this investigation is to carry out micropropagation of banana on commercial scale using cost-effective cytokinin (BAP) and auxin (IAA) in order to supply quality saplings to farmers at affordable price. Commercial standard medium and MS basal medium supplemented with BAP at different concentrations and IAA at fixed concentration have been used for micropropagation. To study the genetic fidelity of in vitro-derived plants, ISSR markers were used. In micropropagation experiments, shoot proliferation in commercial standard medium was found to be better in 1.0 and 5 mg L^‑1 BAP for ‘Grand Naine’; whereby, production schedule could be determined accurately with quality shoots. However, for ‘Monthan’, 5 and 10 mg L^‑1 BAP, and for ‘Red banana’ 10 and 5 mg L^‑1 BAP along with 0.2 mg L^‑1 IAA for each, appeared to be more suitable for obtaining productive shoots. Genetic fidelity studies showed that ‘Monthan’ is ‘true-to-type’ as it shows high MIC value of 64.51%; whereas, ‘Grand Naine’ with 48.41%. In case of ‘Red banana’, a lot of variation was reported with PIC value of 78.43. This genetic variation could be due to somaclonal variation that had occurred in the micropropagated plants.