SHORT COMMUNICATION DIFFERENTIATION OF A & B GENOME OF BANANA AND PLANTAIN (MUSA SPP.) BY ESTERASE ENZYME

Esterase isozyme variation detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the genomic constitution of the local cultivars of bananas and plantains and their wild relatives (Musa spp.). A high degree of polymorphism was prevalent for isozyrnes allozymes of esterase in accessions belonging to the AA, AAA, AAAA, AAB, ABB and BB genomic groups. One band (Rf. 0.37) of thezymograms was observed to be unique andmonomorphic for all the genomic groups tested. The intensity, width and FWvalue (0.37) of this band was identified. A unique doublet (Rf 0.37 and 0.43) was found to be common to all accessions of AAB, ABB and BB. The band at FW0.43 is specific to cultivars with B genome. Therefore cultivars with only A genome (diploid, triploid or tetraploid) can be readily distinguished from those with B genome or hybrid genome (A & B) by absence of the particular band with Rf 0.43.