Alternative culture formulations for in vitro banana cultivation

Formulações alternativas para cultivo in vitro de banana

Abstract

The banana plant (Musa spp.) is a tropical crop of significant socioeconomic importance, and micropropagation emerges as a viable alternative for large-scale production. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of alternative culture media and the use of essential oils in controlling fungal contamination. Four media were tested: tomato-based, fruit and vegetable mixture, NPK fertilizer-based, and Murashige & Skoog (MS). Explants were cultivated under aseptic conditions for 30 days. The tomato-based medium showed the best performance among the alternatives, while MS promoted greater vigor and shoot development. Essential oils of pepper and Aloe vera demonstrated 95% and 90% effectiveness in contamination control, respectively. The findings indicate that alternative media, particularly the tomato-based formulation, effectively support the in vitro development of banana plants, offering a sustainable approach with potential for reducing production costs.