title: Plant regeneration through direct somatic embryogenesis from protoplasts of banana (Musa spp.).
abstract: We report the isolation and regeneration of protoplasts from an embryogenic banana (Musa spp.) cell suspension culture initiated from in vitro proliferating meristems. A high yielding isolation method (up to 6×10(7) protoplasts.ml(-1) packed cells) is discussed. Optimal regeneration, with more than 50% of the protoplasts showing initial cell division, occurred when high inoculation densities (10(6) protoplasts.ml(-1)) or nurse cultures were applied. Under these conditions, the frequency of microcolony formation was 20-40%. These microcolonies developed directly, without an intervening callus phase, into somatic embryos which later germinated and formed plantlets.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tropical Crop Husbandry, Catholic University of Leuven (K. U. Leuven), Kardinaal Mercierlaan 92, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Wauwe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Swennen