Improvement of Malbhog, a Commercially Important Indigenous Banana of Assam, through Mutation Induction
Malbhog is a medium tall, most preferred indigenous table banana variety (AAB genomic group) of Assam that bears fruit in 18 months, yields about 8-9 kg per bunch and is prone to disease infestation and pest attack. Banana bunchy top virus has threatened banana propagation, field production and germplasm conservation. The proposed research aims to identify and establish virus free Malbhog germplasm bank. These materials would be useful as explant source for micropropagation of virus free quality planting materials.
Gamma irradiation of in vitro raised micro shoots causes damage to the DNA strands in various locations depending on the dose exposed and radiosensitivity of the tissues. Simultaneous de novo DNA repair mechanism does not fully restore the original nucleotide sequences resulting a numbers changes in the DNA strand. The plantlets regenerated from the tissues containing altered DNA strand show a number of variation in morphology and reproduction. Some of this variation may be of commercially useful and some of research interest for breeding programme. Over and above this project would provide a number of mutants of which some could be utilized for commercial gain.
Gamma irradiation of in vitro raised micro shoots causes damage to the DNA strands in various locations depending on the dose exposed and radiosensitivity of the tissues. Simultaneous de novo DNA repair mechanism does not fully restore the original nucleotide sequences resulting a numbers changes in the DNA strand. The plantlets regenerated from the tissues containing altered DNA strand show a number of variation in morphology and reproduction. Some of this variation may be of commercially useful and some of research interest for breeding programme. Over and above this project would provide a number of mutants of which some could be utilized for commercial gain.