Biotechnology of the Banana: A Review of Recent Progress

Abstract

A number of biotechnological tools have been developed which could help breeders to evolve new plant types to meet the demand of the food industry in the next century. Available techniques for the transfer of genes could significantly shorten the breeding procedures and overcome some of the agronomic and environmental problems which would otherwise not be possible through conventional methods. In vitro protocols have been standardized to allow commercially viable propagation of desired clones of Musa. An overview of the regeneration of banana by direct and indirect organogenesis, and somatic embryogenesis is presented in this article. In addition, the use of several other biotechnological techniques to enrich the genome of banana, such as selection of somaclonal variants, screening for various useful characteristics, cryopreservation, genetic transformation and molecular genetics are reviewed. In conclusion, the improvement of banana through modern biotechnology should help ensure food security by stabilizing production levels in sustainable cropping systems geared towards meeting domestic and export market demands.

Augmenting in vitro Shoot Multiplication by Growth Regulators and Photoperiod in Vigna mungo L. (Hepper.)

“…In the present study, it is noted that the multiplication rate was high and stable up to the 7 th subculture and declined in subsequent subcultures. This might be due to a balance interaction between the endogenous and the exogenous growth regulators and the ionic concentrations of nutrient salts as reported earlier in other plants [3,23,24].…”

Meristem micropropagation of cassava (Manihot esculenta) evokes genome-wide changes in DNA methylation

“…Cell division to generate tissues and organs require a precise coordination of genetic and epigenetic processes ( Miguel and Marum, 2011 ; Smulders and de Klerk, 2011 ). For micropropagation systems that rely on dedifferentiation and de novo organogenesis, in vitro culture can often yield occasional regenerants that are phenotypically off-type (e.g., Lakshmanan and Taji, 2000 ; Rout et al, 2000 ; Da Silva et al, 2015 ). In contrast, those recovered from meristem micropropagation are widely reported to remain more faithful to the phenotype of the parental plant in range of species (e.g., Villordon and LaBonte, 1996 ) including cassava (e.g., Santana et al, 2009 ).…”

Rapid plant regeneration, validation of genetic integrity by ISSR markers and conservation of Reseda pentagyna an endemic plant growing in Saudi Arabia

“…To start the regeneration Plant tissue culture would be an attractive and alternative method of propagation. This method is being applied extensively for the conservation of important, rare, endangered medicinal plants and also commercial purpose (Rout et al, 2000). Plant biotechnology and tissue culture provide contamination free plants as well as explants to exploit in propagation and transformation.…”