HotWater-Treated Rhizome-Raised Banana Seedlings Revealed Improved <em>in vitro</em> Establishment

Purpose: Conventional banana suckers were unable to meet the demand of Ethiopian farmers since bananas produced 5 to 20 suckers per plant annually. Alternatively, in vitro propagation method provides adequate, uniform, and healthy planting materials. However, phenolic oxidation and high endogenous microbial contamination, which kill plants or retard their growth during the establishment phase, are the major challenges for this approach.Research Method: Banana explants taken directly from the field and those grown in a greenhouse after hot water treatments were compared for their rate of phenolic oxidation, endogenous microbial contamination, and length of time to sprout using five released banana varieties.Findings: Except for the Poyo variety from the field, which demonstrates a moderate survival and sprouting percentage, the use of banana explants from greenhouse significantly increased the survival and sprouting rate by 60% and 265%, respectively; and correspondingly decreased the phenolic oxidation and length of sprouting weeks by 76% and 22%, compared to the explants directly from the field. Banana explants sourced from the greenhouse could significantly reduce endogenous fungal and bacterial contamination and completely avoid endogenous yeast contamination.Research Limitations: There was limited availability of facilities to study the detailed biology of contaminants and the chemical nature of phenolic oxidants.Originality/ Value: The research output will help to increase the efficiency of banana in vitro establishment rate.