Micropropagation of two banana (Musa spp.) varieties using shoot explant from Gurage Zone, Ethiopia

The banana (Musa spp.), a nutritionally valuable fruit crop for production and consumption, shows significantly higher propagation rates through tissue culture than conventional methods. This study aimed to develop a mass in vitro regeneration protocol for two banana varieties (Dwarf Cavendish and Ducasse) using shoot tip explants. The study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Surface sterilization was employed with 1 %, 2 %, and 5 % NaOCl with 70 % ethanol. Browning control used MS medium with 25 mg and 50 mg/L ascorbic acid (AA) and 1 g/L and 2 g/L activated charcoal (AC). Shoot multiplication tested 2, 2.5, and 3 mg/L BAP ±0.5 mg/L kinetin (Kin). Plantlets were acclimatized in a 2:1:1 soil mixture. The sterilization experiment showed that 2 % NaOCl was most effective. Results demonstrated that up to 85 % of initiated shoots survived on a medium containing 2 g/L AC. The use of 2 g/L AC and 50 mg/L AA as anti-browning agents proved suitable for banana shoot tip culture. For shoot multiplication, the maximum number of shoots per explant (4.50 cm) was obtained on a medium containing 3 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L Kin. The highest root length (6.90 cm) was observed in the Ducasse variety with 80 g/L bulla. The acclimatization experiment showed 100 % plantlet survival across all media mixtures. In conclusion, this study provides an effective protocol for rapid mass in vitro propagation of these two banana varieties. Among the tested cultivars, Dwarf Cavendish showed greater responsiveness to in vitro propagation techniques.