Abstract
Some 7,000 plantlets were produced in vitro from six plantain cultivars (Enano Común, Congo Enano, Maricongo, Congo, Clone 12 and Clone 7), and from three banana cultivars (Grand Nain, Valerie and Ziv) by supplementing Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium with 0.5 mg/L kinetin and 0.5 mg/L 6-benzylamino purine. Calli were induced by supplementing the MS basal medium with 0.05 mg/L 2,4-D, 0.1 mg/L NAA, 0.5 mg/L BA, 15% coconut water and 20 mg/L ascorbic acid (filter sterilized). Data obtained from a replicated field trial at the Corozal Substation with the above-mentioned plantain cultivars indicated that the bunch weight from plantain cultivar Congo Enano, regenerated from axillary meristem with in vitro culture, was significantly greater than that from plantains derived from conventional suckers in the plant crop (P = 0.1). Similarly, the individual fruit weight from Congo Enano derived from meristem culture was significantly greater than that from plantains derived from the conventional planting materials (P = 0.5).