Selection of somaclonal variants of the cultivar ‘Prata-Anã’ for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1

Abstract The banana tree is one of the most cultivated fruit globally; however, some diseases significantly affect its production, such as Fusarium wilt. The most appropriate measure for controlling this disease in areas with inoculum pressure is the use of resistant cultivars. Therefore, this study aimed to generate banana somaclones of the cultivar ‘Prata-Anã’ resistant to Fusarium wilt by inducing somaclonal variation. ‘Prata-Anã’ stem apexes were established in vitro in MS culture medium and, on a monthly basis, subcultivated in AIA and adenine sulfate supplemented MS medium with added plant regulators: 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP, 4 ml L-1), Thidiazuron (TDZ, 1 ml L-1), and Paclobutrazol (PBZ, 10 ml L-1). The treatments were: T0: no regulator, T1: BAP, T2: TDZ, T3: PBZ, T4: BAP + TDZ, T5: BAP + PBZ, T6: TDZ + PBZ, and T7: BAP + TDZ + PBZ. After the twelfth subculture, the regenerated plants were planted in boxes containing sterile soil infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, and evaluated after 90 days for resistance to the pathogen. Somaclonal variants T2-1 and T2-2, generated in Treatment 2, with TDZ, were selected as resistant. This result is promising for the launch of a new Fusarium race 1-resistant banana variety.