Stability of micropropagated Musa acuminata cv. Grand Naine over clonal generations: A molecular assessment

The present work was undertaken to investigate clonal fidelity of banana (Musa acuminata cv. Grand Naine) regenerants from six different in vitro subculture generations and in the explant suckers by using ISSR and REMAP molecular markers. Both types of markers revealed high degree of monomorphism. Very low variation was observed up to the eighth subculture generation with polymorphic bands being low in both ISSR (0.96%) and REMAP (0.95%) markers. Epigenetic stability was studied by DNA methylation analysis of the eighth subculture generation samples. Single 570 bp methylation sensitive band was absent in two of the fifteen MspI predigested samples, while it was present in HpaII predigested and undigested samples. The results of the investigation confirmed that the micropropagation of banana up to the eighth subculture generation show low variation.

► Clonal fidelity of banana regenerants from six different in vitro subculture generations and in the explant suckers was studied.
► Both ISSR and REMAP molecular markers revealed high degree of monomorphism till 8th generation.
► On epigenetic stability analysis two out of fifteen eighth subculture generation samples showed a methylation sensitive band.
► The investigation confirmed that the micropropagation of banana up to the eighth subculture generation show low variation.