Studies on male-bud mutations and reversions in Musa

Study conducted on the occurrence frequency of male-bud mutations and their reversions revealed that these bud mutations are random and their perpetuation is unstable. Except in Mutheli (AAB), Padali Moongil (AB) and Kodappanilla Kunnan (AB), other accessions recorded reduced yield owing to attributes like reduced number of hands, number of fingers and total number of fingers per bunch. In NRCB genepool, all genomic groups showed mutation for lack of male bud except the diploid acuminata genome. Accessions of bispecific origin had greater vulnerability to spontaneous mutations due to unexpected rearrangement of chromosomes of the meristem leading to structural changes. Triploid nature and different combinations of genomes add stimulus to this phenomenon, leading to a number of bud sports which are maintained through vegetative propagation and add up to genetic assemblage of Musa. But commercial exploitation of mutation has been noticed only in a few ones like Padali Moongil and Kodappanilla Kunnan.