Phloroglucinol is Effective for in vitro Growth and Multiplication of Musa accuminata Cv. Grand Naine Shoots and Roots

Despite being a major staple food in the world, banana production in the United States is still limited, with about 500 acres under cultivation. Micropropagation has been an effective method for the large-scale production of bananas to meet both domestic and international markets. However, the efficiency of micropropagation protocols depends on several factors, particularly on the types, combinations, and levels of plant growth regulators used in the culture media. Phloroglucinol is a growth regulator that acts synergistically with auxins and cytokinins. The use of phloroglucinol for the production and development of in vitro plantlets of Musa spp. cv. Grande Naine were investigated. Multiplication and elongation of shoots and roots in vitro was enhanced by the addition of 200 μM phloroglucinol to MS medium, as compared to the control with 13.2 μM BA. Higher concentrations (400 to 1000 μM phloroglucinol) resulted in reduced growth and development of shoots and roots in vitro.