Plant regeneration system via somatic embryogenesis in the hybrid cultivar FHIA-21 (Musa sp AAAB group)

Cell suspensions were established from calluses with embryogenic structures obtained from young male flowers of the hybrid cultivar FHIA-21 (Musa sp. AAAB group). Different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid tested produced similar tendencies in all cases. In the subsequent phase, these cell suspensions then formed somatic embryos with best results at a cell density of 20%, forming 799.5 +/- 2.5 embryos from only 200 mul of cell suspension. However, germination was best with embryos produced at 15% cell density. Plant recovery frequencies were as high as 81.5% in this case. Regenerated plants were taken to the acclimatization phase for conversion and future evaluation on somaclonal variation.