Growth, yield and somaclonal variation of micropropagated bananas

Abstract

The development and productivity of micropropagated and conventionally propagated banana plants of the cvs. Prata-Anã and Nanicão were evaluated. Micropropagated plants of cv. Prata-Anã were significantly superior to conventionally propagated plants for all variables studied during the vegetative growth period, while for 'Nanicão' this superiority was observed only in the first eight months. There was no significant difference in fruit parameters in 'Nanicão' but productivity of micropropagated 'Prata-Anã' was significantly superior to that of conventional plants. The frequency of somaclonal variation was higher in 'Nanicão' but it was less than 5%.