In vitro regeneration and micro-propagation of enset from Southwestern Ethiopia

Three clones of enset (Ensete ventricosum Welw. Cheesman) from southwestern Ethiopia (Keffa-Shaka zone) were investigated for their potential for micr opropagation and regeneration in tissue culture. Corm and leaf tissue of gr eenhouse-grown plants as well as in vitro germinated zygotic embryos were u sed as starting material for micro-propagation and regeneration studies. Em bryos were excised from disinfected seeds and cultured in vitro. Multiple s hoots from both corm- and embryo-explants were obtained using regeneration medium supplemented with 10 muM or 20 muM BAP. Rooting of shoots was achiev ed using medium with 5 muM IBA, 1 muM BAP and 1 g l(-1) activated charcoal. Plantlets obtained by this process were transferred to soil under greenhou se conditions. Optimal conditions, which were determined for clonal propaga tion of three different genotypes of enset, allowing both in vitro micropro pagation and regeneration, are described. This protocol makes for conservat ion of enset clones, rapid propagation of selected disease-free germplasm a nd more efficient breeding procedures.