Efecto de la densidad de inoculación de embriones somáticos en la obtención de plántulas de plátano cv. FHIA-21 (AAAB)

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in plantain and banana may become a commercial propagation technology, due to the high multiplication coefficient of somatic embryos. However, it is important to get quality embryos with a synchronous morphological development to achieve higher rates of germination and plant conversion. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of inoculation density of somatic embryos for obtaining plantain ‘FHIA-21’ (AAAB) cultivars. Then, four inoculation treatments were studied: 0,2; 0,4; 0,6 and 0,8 grams of fresh mass (gMF) of embryos on liquid culture medium of maturation. The morphological and histological characteristics of somatic embryos were evaluated after 30 days and transferred to a semisolid germination culture medium. Results showed a better synchronization in the morphological development of somatic embryos when cultured with 0,6 Gmf, which was evident by their length uniformity, the apical and root meristem formation, as well as the accumulation of reserve substances. Such embryos reached a higher percentage of germination and whole plant formation, with statistical differences compared to other treatments. These plants were characterized by a longer pseudostem, more than two open leaves and greater root number. This study is essential for the mass propagation of plantain cv. ‘FHIA-21’ by somatic embryogenesis.