Isozyme Analysis of Embryogenic and Non-Embryogenic Callus of Diploid Banana Cultivars

Isozyme analyses were carried out on protein extracts of embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus derived from bract meristem of four diploid Musa cultivars using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We examined the isozyme pattern of peroxidase, catalase, malate dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase for their utility as biochemical markers of banana embryogenic callus cultures. Peroxidase, catalase and alcohol dehydrogenase exhibited high intensity bands in the embryogenic samples, while the corresponding bands were either absent or faint bands were observed in the non-embryogenic callus. Malate dehydrogenase enzyme pattern exhibited homogenous bands in both the embryogenic and non-embryogenic samples.