In vitro conservation of enset under slow-growth conditions

Studies on in vitro storage of enset under slow-growth conditions were carr ied out to develop an efficient protocol for conservation of the genetic di versity of the crop. The response to different growth retardation treatment s was examined using three enset clones collected from southwestern Ethiopi a. In vitro cultures could be effectively maintained for 6 months at 15 deg reesC and 18 degreesC on MS medium supplemented with 10 muM BAP, in the pre sence of mannitol at concentrations of 0, 1 or 2% as a growth retardant. Sh oots were subsequently recovered and multiplied on MS medium supplemented w ith 10 and 20 muM BAP at 25 degreesC and rooted shoots were successfully tr ansferred to the greenhouse. Incubation at the lower temperature (15 degree sC) and the presence of mannitol in the culture medium had a significantly positive effect on maintenance, measured by the number of recovered shoots after storage.