Multiplication of Musa from excised stem tips.

Rapidly multiplying cultures were established from excised shoot tips of two dessert banana clones ('Philippine Lacatan' and 'Grande Naine') and two plantain clones ('Pelipita' and 'Saba'). Apices cultured on semi-solid media produced single shoots while apices placed in liquid media produced shoot clusters. Individual shoots were induced to form multiple shoot clusters by longitudinally splitting the shoot through the apex. Shoot multiplication was stimulated maximally by 5 mg l-1 benzylaminopurine. Rooted plants were produced by treating shoots with auxins. Growth rates based on increase in f. wt of the four clones were compared. During a 4-week culture period 'Pelipita' showed a fivefold increase in f. wt while 'Grande Naine', 'Philippine Lacatan' and 'Saba' showed increases exceeding tenfold.