Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from male flower buds in banana

Embryogenic cultures were established using young male flowers in five cultivars of banana (Musa spp.). Embryogenic callus continued to rapidly proliferate on MS medium supplemented with 0.22 mu M BA and 1.14 mu M indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and somatic embryos developed during subcultures on the same medium. Green plumule emerged from the embryos followed by the development of roots within a span of 6 to 8 weeks upon transfer to 1/2 strength Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) + 0.5 g/l malt extract (ME) and 0.1% activated charcoal (AC) and subsequently developed into complete plantlets, Normal plant development was noticed following transplantation into paper caps in the greenhouse.