Somatic Embryogenesis in Banana, Musa ssp.

In Musa (Musaceae family), as for other angiosperms, somatic embryo formation from somatic cells exemplify a distinctive phenomenon of plant cell developmental plasticity. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) through embryogenic cell suspension (ECS) cultures is an important milestone method for accelerating bananas’ mass-propagation due to its high regeneration potential, and serves as powerful cellular tool for its non-conventional improvement. Protocols for SE have been standardized for several genotypes of wild Musa species (having AA and/or BB genomes), dessert (AA, AB and AAA), cooking (ABB), and plantain (AAB) bananas using different types of explants; however, in some cases, the protocols are limited by the low embryo germination and plant conversion rates. Therefore, efforts are needed to understand the physiological, biochemical, and genetic processes underpinning banana embryo development (zygotic and somatic), in order to inaugurate robust SE protocols with high rates of embryo germination and plant conversion. Here, we present an overview of the general progress in banana plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis.