Influence of explant slicing and cytokinin concentration on in vitro plantlet production of Musa sp. AAB ‘Agbagba’

The effect of longitudinal splitting of shoot tip explants (no-split, two-splits and four-splits) cultured in MS basal medium containing different BA concentrations (0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 mg L(-1)) for both regeneration and proliferation of 'Agbagba' were investigated. Data were collected on the shoot length, shoot number, root length and root number 21 DAC (days after culture). Increase in BA concentrations did not increase shoot length after 1.5 mg L(-1) irrespective of the splitting method at regeneration and proliferation stages. At proliferation, the highest average number of shoots per explant was 18 at four-splits in combination with 4.5 mg L(-1) BA and the lowest was 1.5 at no-split in combination with 1.5, 2.5 or 3.5 mg L(-1). The level of contamination of the culture medium and explants with pathogens reduced with increase in splitting. For commercial micropropagation of Musa sp. AAB ('Agbagba'), the best method and medium recommended for regeneration and proliferation is four-splits at 1.5 mg L(-1) BA and four-splits at 4.5 mg L(-1) BA, respectively. All the plantlets were rooted and acclimatized successfully; there were no morphological differences between no-split and split plantlets.