Bio-Chemical Contents and Micro-Propagation Efficiency in Banana

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four suckers of banana (Musa sp.) variety Basrai were selected from the greenhouse; Vice Chancellor’s house, University of Sindh, Jomshoro, Pakistan, to use as experimental material (Hirimburegama and Gamage, 1997) or explant.

Meristematic stem tips were excised and surface disinfected from micro-organisms by washing with ethanol (90%) for 1 min, than shacked in 30% commercial bleach (5.25% NaOCl) for 30 min. Afterwards, washed for 3-times (3H5 min) with sterile distilled water.

Aseptically isolated shoot tips (3-4 mm) were cultured for organogenesis on MS [Murashige and Skoog (1962) basal medium supplemented with vitamins B5 (Gamborg et al., 1968); 3% sucrose; semi-solidified with 3.60 g L^-1 phytagel] medium (initial culture) supplemented with various hormone/s for organogenesis. After 2-weeks, the explants were shifted to the shooting culture I for shoot induction (2-weeks) and its multiplication (3-weeks) was carried out on the shooting culture II (Fig. 1, Table 1 and 2).

Fig. 1:	A schematic representation of the optimized protocol for the micro-propagation of banana cv. Basrai (Musa sp.)

Table 1:	Effect of different hormonal combinations on the bio-chemical contents and micro-propagation efficiency of banana (Musa sp.) cv. Basrai
Note: MS2d; Initial culture; *MS2f and **MS2f: Used as a shooting culture by culturing explants after organogenesis on MS2d (2-weeks) as in Fig. 1. *MS2f and **MS2f: With and without L-cystein (Both of the media were used for the explants proliferation/organogenesis; also for shoot induction and their multiplication in the explants which were organogenised on MS2d medium for 2-weeks); -Each experiment comprised on 4 replicates; Explant proliferation was calculated in grams (g) after 4-weeks by formula (final wt of explant-initial wt of the explant); Shoots weight were measured, which plants were of 5 mm or more in height; Box observations: The # of the regenerated plantlets on *MS2f and **MS2f media, here sub-cultured explants were organogenised on MS2d

Table 2:	Effect of different culturing conditions on micro-propagation efficiency in banana (Musa sp.) variety Basrai

Fig. 2:

Different steps in micro-propagation of banana cv. Basrai (Musa sp.). a) Explants on MS2d medium for organogenesis (2 weeks); b) Shoot induction on shooting culture I (after 4 weeks), best one stage for shifting to shooting culture II, for the purpose to minimize plant abnormality; c) Shoot induction on the shooting culture I with 3.60 g L-1 phytagel (after 4 weeks); d) Shoot multiplication on shooting culture II (after 4 weeks); e) Meristematic micro-stem cuttings from shooting culture II for sub-culturing on the same medium; f) Shoot multiplication on shooting culture II (after 3 weeks; repeat this culture for 3 times, each for 4 weeks before going to root induction); g) Micro-propagated stem cuttings (with plantlets) from shooting culture II used for the root induction; h) A micro-propagated plantlet on root induction medium for 2 weeks and i) A plant (after 1 week of its hardening), growing on soil in wire-house

The established cultures on shoot induction medium were routinely transferred after every 3 weeks by subdividing the clustered mass of plantlets (Fig. 2d) into a number of micro cuttings, according to that, the number of plantlets per explant with a sterile scalpel. These micro-cuttings (Fig. 2g) of the micro-propagated plantlets were sub-cultured for 4 times on the same medium. The root induction was carried out by culturing onto MS basal medium supplemented with 0.01 mg L^-1 IBA. After 4th sub-culturing on the shooting culture II, the cultures were refreshed by taking new young sucker from field.

All cultures were supplemented with 30.0 mg L^-1 L-cystein, 3.0% sucrose and their pH was adjusted to 5.7-5.8 before autoclaving (121°C and 15 lbs for 15 min). Each culture was maintained at 25±2°C with 18/6 h photoperiod (light intensity ~2000 lux).

After 4 weeks, the explants from each culture medium (Initial culture; Fig. 1; Table 1c) were removed, washed with water and dried in electric owen at 72EC for 2 days till a constant dry weight was measured. Dried plant material was subjected to chemical analysis for ion concentration (Na⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺) as by Malavolta et al. (1989) methods. Chloride contents were measured by Chloro-counter following the instruction in the instrument operating manual (Marius Instrumenten, Utrecht, The Netherlands).

Total sugars and reducing sugar contents were analyzed according to Montgomery (1961) and Miller (1959) respectively, while total protein contents were measured according to Lowery et al. (1951) method.

RESULTS

To establish an efficient in vitro micro-propagation system for banana (Musa sp.) variety Basrai, fresh meristematic shoot cuttings were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with a combination of different cytokinin and auxin for organogenesis. Explants proliferation was measured after 4 weeks, in all the cultured explants, maximum was observed on MS_2e and minimum on MS_2d (Table 1).

During organogenesis; after two weeks, the organogenised explants (Fig. 2a) from MS_2d were cultured on all media. After 4 weeks on shooting culture (Table 1b), a numbers of plantlets were observed on *MS_2f (Table 1; Fig. 2b and c) after 6 weeks, the abnormal plantlets were also developed on MS_2d. Normal plantlets were also observed on **MS_2f but can not survive for long terms (not able to grow after 2nd sub-culturing), because of the appearance of culture blackening, which was due to, the phenolics oxidation.

To know, what an effect of the solidification of culture medium (physical conditions) on the rate of shoot induction and its multiplication rate. The maximum numbers of plantlets per explant were observed on the shooting culture II (*MS_2f; Table 2), while numerous, very small and abnormal plantlets were developed on the medium solidified with 1.0 g L^-1 phytagel. Rooting was failed in such plantlets (Fig. 2f). Maximum plant heights were measured on the medium solidified with 3.60 g L^-1 phytagel. During the experiment, a co-relation was observed between the shoot multiplication rate and plant heights, with the increase in shoot height the number of plantlets decreased and vice versa (*MS_2f; **MS_2f; Table 1 and 2). The maximum number of shoots with reasonable height was observed (Table 2 and Fig. 1), when the shooting culture I (1.0 g L^-1 phytagel) and II (2.0 g L^-1 phytagel) were inserted in the MS_2f culture system.

Well developing plantlets of about 3 weeks old after 4th sub-culturing on the shooting culture II were excised and cultured on half-strength MS basal medium supplemented with 0.01 mg L^-1 IBA, about 90% of the shoots, rooted within 2 weeks (Fig. 2h). Rooted plantlets were then transferred to pots containing soil (covered with a polythene bags for a few days to prevent wilting) for plant hardening, after 2 weeks, were established under greenhouse conditions.

Under the influence of different hormonal combinations and/or separately leads to a change in the organic and inorganic contents in the proliferating tissues. Each medium with a specific hormonal condition develops a specific combination of the physio-chemical contents in each medium. Both Na⁺ and ClG contents were increased under the influence of BA, NAA and IAA (MS_2c) than others (Table 1), while the K⁺ and Ca²⁺ contents were decreased. However, in the presence of BA (MS_2f), the situation was reversed (Table 1).

Similar characters were also observed for the organics like as total protein, reducing sugars and total sugar contents. Maximum reducing sugar contents were observed in MS_2c as this is a specific character for the indication of stressed condition on the explants. While total protein and sugar contents were observed maximum in the presence of BA (*MS_2f), which is a cause for the best shoot induction and with exponential multiplication within the organogenised explants (from MS_2e). So the presence of a specific hormone/s in the culture medium develops a specific inorganic and organic combination in the growing tissue, which reflects the rate and efficiency of the shoot induction and its multiplication in the micro-propagating plantlets.

DISCUSSION

Today, tissue culture is the basic need, to develop rapid and surface growing pathogen free plants. However, raising plants from seeds (or spores) is the traditional means of production, which reflects the sexual reproductive approaches, while vegetative propagation is the process of using a part of an existing plant (stem cutting, suckers, or other tissues) to grow into a new one under in vitro conditions. This method may also be effective for banana; which is an vegetatively propagating crop for the purpose to develop its disease free clones (Arinaitwe et al., 2000; Vuylsteke, 1998; Mendes et al., 1999; Wojtania and Gabryszweska, 2001; Ortiz and Vuylsteke, 1994).

The phytohormones regulate and integrate the overall growth, development and reproductions in plants. The morphogenesis devolves basically around the processes of cell division, cell elongation and differentiation. Hormones are factors which involved in regulating all of them. Auxins are typically associated with cell elongation Reinhardt et al. (2003, 2000); Jouve et al. (1999), Jenson et al. (1998) and Rayle and Cleland (1992), while auxin and cytokinin act synergistically to regulate the process of cell division (Dowries and Crowell, 1998; Hwang and Sheen, 2001). Depending upon, the ratio of auxins and cytokinins, the organogenesis (Hirimburegama and Gamage, 1997; Hutchison et al., 1999; Kadota and Nimii, 2003); the mode of roots and shoots within a cell and/or tissue are specified, while alteration results into altered signals. Such alterations develop specific balanced ratios of the specific organics and inorganics in the growing tissues (Table 1). The balanced cell’s chemical contents lead to trigger a phenomena cell polarity in the meristematic regions of the cultured tissues.

During organogenesis, the optimal combination of auxins and cytokinins in the medium both IAA and BA are perhaps critical phenomena among others i.e., BA, IAA and NAA while the enhanced shoot multiplication rate in a particular explant is the reflection of IAA and BA which is appeared in the presence of BA only (Fig. 2d). In general, higher levels of BA in the medium increases the number of shoots per explants, but the shoot height decreased or even abnormal shoot buds developed, which laterally not enable itself to develop into shoot (Van den et al., 1998; Victor et al., 1999).

While, the progress in a specific mode of development during banana micro-propagation is also dependent on the physical conditions of the medium either semi-solidification and/or liquefaction. The capability of the micro-propagating plantlets for nutrients absorption is different at different stage. Liquid media induction during micro-propagation is considered to be the ideal solution for automation and reducing production costs. However, it causes many problems such as asphyxia, hyper-hydricity (Etienne and Berthouly, 2002) which causes to induce abnormalities in the developing plantlets. All of these problems are avoidable by using different solidification conditions (Borroto, 1999; Daniells, 1997) of the medium at different stages of plant micro-propagation (Fig. 1) Such abnormalities are not easy to un-install (Vuylsteke, 1998; Matsumoto and Brandao, 2002; Daquinta et al., 2000; Murch et al., 2004; Noh et al., 2003; Cosgrove et al., 2002; Arinozue and Maloof, 2006; Etienne and Berthouly, 2002). The abnormal buds are not suitable for banana micropropagation purpose. From them, the normal tissues can be developed either by changing its medium composition or culturing times but objection is that such developed plants may be sterile in the field.

One step of liquification induction during micro-propagation has a positive effect on in vitro shoot proliferation (Alvard et al., 1993; Escalona et al., 1999; Murch et al., 2004). Presently three different media solidification conditions are optimized (timing and concentration of phytagel) for banana variety Basrai. The presence of a specific hormone/s in the medium has a key role in switching the banana micro-propagation character (Roels et al., 2005). IAA (Auxin) and BA (cytokinin) are appeared to be the better choice for the purpose to develop a mode (organogenesis) or initials development for shoot induction (BA) laterally. Both IAA and BA in the medium develop somewhat stress on the cultured tissue which is hinted because of the appearance of the high level of reducing sugars. While at the shooting stage it was lowered down and others i.e., total protein, total sugars and other mineral (K⁺ Ca²⁺) were increased. It gives an indication that the cultured tissue is metabolically active in the presence of BA only, as same situation also presented by MS_2e medium where highest proliferated mass of the explant was observed. Both physical conditions of the medium (phytagel) and specific hormones behaves in an interconnected form, which are involved to trigger a specific character otherwise, it causes to develop abnormalities in the developing plantlets.

By using, the optimized scheme (Fig. 1) any desirable genotypes of the banana (Musa sp.) can be micro-propagated into a large numbers; within a short time period by making somewhat change in the respective media composition or the culture timing.