Factors affecting In vitro shoot regeneration in banana cv. grand naine

Young suckers of banana with diameter 8–12 cm were most suitable for shoot tip culture and gave maximum shoot proliferation and least browning due to phenols. Mercuric chloride (0.1%) proved better surface sterilant than ALA bleach (50%) for higher explant survival percentage (52.84%) and lower contamination per cent. Twelve minutes time for exposure of shoot tips to mercuric chloride (0.1%) was optimum for surface sterilization. Pre-sterilization of explants with 0.1 percent bavistin for 15 minutes before surface sterilization, reduced the incidence of fungal contamination. Addition of cefotaxime 500 ppm to the culture medium reduced systemic bacterial contamination. The explants cultured in the month of April, exhibited the highest establishment (67.53%). The MS medium supplemented with BAP (3 mgl⁻¹) induced maximum shoot regeneration (91.53%).