Cryoconservation of some wild species of Musa L.

The present work was undertaken to devise suitable medium for induction of proliferating meristems in five wild species of Musa (M. acuminata, M. balbisiana, M. basjo, M. jackeyi and M. textilis) and their subsequent cryopreservation by modification of the standard droplet vitrification protocol. It was found that BAP (100 ìM) alone was not sufficient to induce high proliferation rates and inclusion of TDZ (1–10 ìM) was essential. The duration of pre-growth desiccation (9–14 d) and dehydration with cryoprotectant (PVS2, 90–120 min) varied with each species. The optimized protocol for each species yielded 46–58% shoot recovery after cryopreservation. In terms of ease of explant generation, percentage shoot recovery and plantlet formation, M. jackeyi > M. basjoo > M. textilis > M. acuminata > M. balbisiana.