Low-Cost In Vitro Options for Banana Mutation Breeding

Abstract Mutation fixation of irradiated banana cultures is achieved through at least three generation advancements by in vitro subculturing. The in vitro culture is a technique which allows rapid multiplication of plantlets within a short time and which often relies highly on expensive inputs that are almost unaffordable in many developing countries. This chapter highlights some easily affordable options that can be adopted for in vitro propagation and weaning of tissue-cultured banana plantlets and other horticultural crops. The presented options provide resource restricted laboratories opportunities to coopperate with irradiation facilities for mutation induction. Thus, when applied to any locally selected banana variety, the low-cost in vitro methods allow an efficient mutagenesis process to improve local accessions. Low-cost alternatives adopted to carry out in vitro mutagenesis activities in the current FAO/IAEA project are presented, by using as baseline other cheaper options developed and adapted through a locally funded project (supported by the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council).