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A review of somaclonal variation in plantain (<i>Musa</i> spp): mechanisms and applications


AB Nwauzoma
ET Jaja

Abstract

Micropropagation or tissue culture is an integral component of applied biotechnology, and is routinely used in different laboratories worldwide. Plant tissue has contributed immensely in large-scale production of resistant and pest free plantlets, germplasm exchange and conservation. A common feature of in vitro-regenerated plants is the potential of genetic variation generated during tissue culture called somaclonal variation, which can be passed onto progeny.
Objective: This paper reviews the factors responsible for this phenomenon, its occurrence in some crops, with emphasis on banana and plantain and its application in the genetic improvement of Musa.

Key words: Plant cell culture, Somaclonal variation, Disease resistance, Banana, Biotechnology


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eISSN: 1997-5902