-A plant regeneration method with cell suspension cultures of banana, and the effect of biobalistic on regeneration potential are described in this report. Somatic embryos of banana were obtained from indirect embryogenesis of male inflorescence of banana cultivar Maçã (AAB group). Part of the calluses formed (40%) showed embryogenic characteristics (nonfriable, compact and yellow color). The cell suspension, originated from embryogenic calluses, contained clusters of small tightly packed cells with dense cytoplasms, relatively large nuclei and very dense nucleoli. After four months of culture, somatic embryos started to regenerate. The maximum number of regenerated plants was observed between 45 and 60 days after embryo formation. In the first experiment, 401 plants were regenerated from approximately 10 mL of packed cells. In the second experiment, 399 plants were regenerated from a cell suspension six months older than that of the first experiment. Cell transformation using particle bombardment with three different plasmid constructions, containing the uid-A gene, resulted in a strong GUS expression five days after bombardment; however, plant regeneration from bombarded cells was much lower than nonbombarded ones.Index terms: Musa, cell suspension, callus, somatic differentiation, biobalistic.
Embriogênese somática e o efeito do bombardeamento de partículas na regeneração de banana cv. MaçãResumo -Neste trabalho é descrito um método de regeneração de plantas, a partir de células de bananeira, em suspensão, e o efeito da biobalística no potencial regenerativo. Embriões somáticos foram obtidos de inflorescências masculinas de bananeira cv. Maçã (grupo AAB) por meio de embriogênese indireta. Parte dos calos (40%) apresentou características embriogênicas (não-friáveis, compactas e amareladas). Suspensões celulares obtidas desses calos continham pequenas massas celulares, com citoplasmas ricos em grânulos de amido, núcleos grandes e nucléolos densos. Termos para indexação: Musa, suspensão celular, calos, diferenciação somática, biobalística.