IN-VITRO MULTIPLICATION OF BANANA (MUSA SPP.) UNDER DIFFERENT NaCl STRESSES

Abstract

Salinity is a major abiotic factor. Its effects were assessed on the micropropagation
efficiency in Pakistani banana (Musa spp.) variety Basrai. Micropropagation
rate was decreased with an increase in NaCl level. Due to it, numbers of
plantlets per explant, pseudostem diameter was decreased. Bio-chemical contents
were also affected due to salinity such as K+ was decreased while Na+ and Cl-
increased significantly. So salinity is reducing not only micro-propagation efficiency
in banana as well as decreasing its yield.