Assessment of Genetic Fidelity in Micropropagated Banana Plantlets Using DNA Extraction and RAPD Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the genetic diversity and fidelity of in-vitro propagated banana plantlets using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. As a vital fruit crop with substantial economic value, bananas are frequently propagated in-vitro to facilitate the large-scale production of uniform, disease-free plants. However, the tissue culture process can introduce somaclonal variations, potentially leading to genetic instability. This research focuses on evaluating the genetic uniformity of micropropagated banana plantlets in comparison to their parent plants. RAPD markers were selected for their effectiveness in detecting polymorphisms across multiple genomic loci. A total of 36 RAPD primers were analyzed, generating 256 scorable bands, with 2% showing polymorphism. The findings indicate a high level of genetic fidelity among the in-vitro propagated plantlets, with only minimal variation observed. This study highlights the utility of RAPD analysis as a fast and cost-efficient tool for assessing genetic stability in micropropagated banana plantlets, ensuring the preservation of desired traits in large-scale cultivation efforts.