Reinitiation of vegetative growth from aseptically cultured terminal floral apex of banana.

Terminal floral apices of Musa acuminata cv. Dwarf Cavendish were isolated and cultured in a modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with N6-benzylamino purine (5 mg/L) and 10% (v/v) coconut water. Under these conditions, the determinate floral buds are transformed into a multiplying vegetative shoot system. Rooted plantlets were obtained by treating shoots with the auxin, naphthaleneacetic acid (1 mg/L), and activated charcoal (0.025%). Practical benefits resulting from these observations, such as the production of virus-free plants and the rapid multiplication of stock material, are discussed.