Stimulatory effect of cyanobacterial extract on banana shoot tip cultures

Abstract

The effect of different concentrations of extract of cyanobacteria (Plectonema boryanum UT x 594) on the growth and development of shoot tip cultures of banana was studied. In 33% of the cultures Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 80% v/v cyanobacterial extract (CYE) stimulated multiple shoot formation. Elongated shoots formed complete plantlets in almost 100% cultures. Shoot tips encapsulated in sodium alginate and grown on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of CYE readily converted into plantlets and maximum conversion frequency (91%) was recorded on MS medium with 10% v/v CYE.