Recent progress in tissue culture techniques and biotechnological innovations for banana production (Musa spp.): a review

Abstract

Plant tissue culture aided with biotechnological approaches results to sustainable agricultural development capable of providing solutions to issues of food security. Bananas and plantains, both belonging to Musaceae, constitute one of the major staple foods and major fruit crops for many people in the world. Only a few out of over 300 kinds of banana have agricultural and economic importance. It is important to improve the productivity of banana as various abiotic and biotic constraints affect its production. There is increasing demand for tissue cultured banana plants due to its uses in producing disease-free planting materials, genetic transformation and crop improvement. Immature male and female flowers have high embryogenic potentials. Conventional method of banana cultivation using suckers is not sustainable and contamination is a major challenge in in-vitro micropropagation of banana. Therefore, aim of this review is to elucidate the advances made in tissue culture technology recently. The paper also highlights the aseptic conditions that can be adopted in the production of disease-free planting materials and successful improvement of the banana crop.