Micropropagation and genetic characterization of abaca (Musa textilis Nee) varieties

Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) is a perennial plant of the Musaceae family, highly valued for the fibers obtained from its pseudostem. Costa Rica, the third-largest global producer of this fiber, faces limitations in propagation and variety selection due to its reliance on vegetative material and the limited genetic information available. In this study, efficient protocols were developed for the in vitro establishment and large-scale micropropagation of commercial abaca varieties cultivated in Costa Rica, as well as their genetic characterization using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. Effective disinfection of explants derived from corms was achieved, and multiplication rates of 5 to 10 shoots per explant were obtained within 3 to 4 weeks, with plantlets ready for acclimatization in 8 to 12 weeks. Molecular characterization revealed high genetic variability among the analyzed varieties, based on differences in the number and size of the amplicons obtained with SSR markers. The R40 marker showed high discrimination power. These results demonstrate the potential of SSR markers for differentiating abaca genotypes and support their use in genetic improvement and conservation programs. The developed protocols represent a key tool for producing pathogen-free plant material and for strengthening commercial propagation and germplasm conservation strategies for abaca in Costa Rica.