Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from male flower buds in banana

Embryogenic cultures were established using young male flowers in five cult ivars of banana (Musa spp.). Embryogenic callus continued to rapidly prolif erate on MS medium supplemented with 0.22 mu M BA and 1.14 mu M indole-3-ac etic acid (IAA) and somatic embryos developed during subcultures on the sam e medium. Green plumule emerged from the embryos followed by the developmen t of roots within a span of 6 to 8 weeks upon transfer to 1/2 strength Mura shige and Skoog medium (MS) + 0.5 g/l malt extract (ME) and 0.1% activated charcoal (AC) and subsequently developed into complete plantlets, Normal pl ant development was noticed following transplantation into paper caps in th e greenhouse.