How to Micropropagate Bananas

The bananas that people commonly eat do not produce seeds and are traditionally grown vegetatively through suckers. However, this method results in low plant multiplication since the banana plants are not reproducing naturally. In recent years, a method of tissue culture propagation has sped up banana production. Cultures are obtained from sterilized shoot tips of the parent banana plant and the cultures are grown in a test tube. There is then primary hardening in the laboratory and secondary hardening in the nursery before the banana plants are finally planted in the field. The Grand Nain is one of the most cultivated bananas. Propagating it requires meticulous attention to detail.

Things You'll Need

  • 1.286 liters of deionized water (approximate)
  • 150 ml of MS Major (stock solution of nutrients)
  • 15 ml MSO (stock solution of organic components)
  • 15 ml of MS Minor (stock solution of nutrients)
  • 3.75 ml of BA (growth regulator, cytokinin)
  • 30 g of sugar (carbon source)
  • 1.5 liter beaker
  • Hot plate/stirrer with a magnetic bar
  • pH meter
  • Potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution
  • Agar (gelling agent)
  • Autoclave
  • 40 test tubes (depending on how many cultures/plantlets you want to grow)
  • Laminar flow hood
  • Forceps
  • Scalpel
  • Ethanol (95%) to sterilize tools
  • Gas flame to sterilize tools
  • Parafilm
  • Grand Nain sterile banana culture
  • Seedling pots
  • Potting soil (with peat moss, perlite and vermiculite)
  • Plastic bags
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mix the water, MS Major, MSO, MS Minor, BA, and sugar in a beaker using the hot plate/stirrer. However, to create single banana plants, remove the BA from the solution.

    • 2

      Measure the pH of the solution using the pH meter. Calibrate the meter to 7, rinse it with deionized water, and place it in the beaker full of solution. Raise the alkalinity of the pH using the potassium hydroxide solution until the solution has a 5.8 pH.

    • 3

      Add the agar (gelling agent) at about 7 grams per liter -- so about 10.5 grams for this approximately 1.5 liter solution.

    • 4

      Sterilize all equipment, including the 40 test tubes and the beaker full of solution in an autoclave for about 25 minutes on a liquid cycle.

    • 5

      Pour the hot, sterilized liquid into the sterilized test tubes in a laminar flow hood. Let them cool overnight.

    • 6

      Wash hands and arms, and spray them with ethanol.

    • 7

      Use forceps to set the banana culture on a sterile surface, and use a sterile scalpel to scrape away the dead material, roots and leaves from the active meristem tissue of the banana culture.

    • 8

      Separate the meristem tissue plantlets and place each of them in separate, sterilized test tubes filled with solution using scalpel and forceps.

    • 9

      Sterilize scalpel and forceps in ethanol and over a gas flame. Set aside.

    • 10

      Seal the tests tubes with something such as Parafilm.

    • 11

      Place test tubes in an incubator for 6-10 weeks as the tissue grows.

    • 12

      When the plant has grown roots and shows no signs of contamination (such as muddy discoloration), it may be planted in soil. Remove the plant from the test tube and rinse it in deionized water.

    • 13

      Plant it in seedling pots with potting soil. Place plastic bags over them to preserve humidity. Leave the plastic bags on for about 1-2 weeks.

    • 14

      Move the banana plant to a larger pot (or into the ground) once it has grown out of the seedling pot.

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