The effects of different concentrations cytokinins on the in vitro multiplication of plantain (musa sp.)

Abstract

The study was aimed at determining the appropriate type and level of cgokinin required to achieve shooting response in two cultivars of plantain (Oniaba and Apantu pa). Three cytokinin types, Benzylaminopurine (BAP), Kinetin and 2ip at two different concentrations (4.5 and .5 mg LA ) were used. The apical meristem of each cultivar was isolated using appropriate protocol for shoot tip isolation under aseptic conditions. Media supplemented with 4.5 mg L I BAP induced the highest number of shoots after eight weeks of culture. There was also a variation in the ability of the cytokinin types to induce shooting in both cultivars. BAP had the highest shoot induction response in both cultivars, followed by Kinetin and 2ip. Each hormone appeared to have an optimal level of concentration for maximum shooting. Oniaba responded favourably to BAP at 4.5 mg L where as Apantu pa was virtually indifferent to the Kmentin types. The degree of efficiency of shooting was therefore found to be dependent on the type of hormone and the plantain cultivar