Comparison of liquid culture methods and effect of temporary immersion bioreactor on growth and multiplication of banana (Musa, cv. Dwarf Cavendish)

Abstract

Four different liquids, as well as solid culture methods used in shoot propagation of banana were compared. Treatments studied were solid medium (A), liquid medium with immersion of plants (B), liquid medium with cotton culture support (C), liquid medium aerated by bubbling (D), and liquid medium with a temporary immersion bioreactor system (TIB) for 20 min every 1 h (E). After 4 weeks of culture, shoots in liquid medium with immersion and liquid medium aerated by bubbling showed none too little proliferation. Shoots in the solid medium and those cultured in liquid medium containing cotton culture supported played multiplication rates of 2.7 to 3.5 with the highest multiplication rate (> 7.00) observed in the explants that were subjected to the TIB in the medium. Three treated groups differed in the accumulation of dry matter; the lowest weight (around 0.6 g) was observed in treatments B and D, while 2 to 4 times greater accumulation was observed in the explants in the solid medium and those cultured in the liquid medium with a cotton culture support. The highest multiplication rates and weight gains were observed in the liquid medium with a TIB (E). Shoots in liquid medium continuously aerated by bubbling, displayed hyperhydricity of the outer leaf sheaths. However, this was not observed with temporary immersion of explants. Keywords: Banana, micropropagation, dwarf cavendish, temporary immersion bioreactor (TIB)