In vitro propagation has played a key role for obtaining large numbers of virus free, homogenous plants, and for breeding of plantains and bananas (Musa spp.). Explant sources utilized for banana micropropagation include suckers, shoot tips, and floral buds. The present study employed male floral meristems as explant material for micropropagation of hill banana ecotypes (AAB) 'Virupakshi' and 'Sirumalai.' Immature male floral buds were collected from healthy plants from hill banana growing areas. Exposure of explants to ethyl alcohol (70%, v/v) for 30 s, then mercuric chloride (0.1%, w/v) for 30 s, followed by three independent rinses of 5 min each in autoclaved, double-distilled water satisfactorily reduced the contamination. Male floral bud explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with different combinations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), coconut water, naphthaleneacetic acid, gibberellic acid, and additional supplements. MS medium supplemented with 5 mg l −1 BAP and coconut water (15%) was the most efficient media for shoot initiation and multiple shoot formation (15 shoots from a single part of a floral bud). The best response for shoot elongation was obtained using the combination of basal MS, 5 mg l −1 BAP, 1 mg l −1 naphthaleneacetic acid and 1.5 mg l −1 gibberellic acid. Regenerated shoots were rooted in basal MS medium within 15-20 d. The rooted plantlets were transferred to a soil mixture and maintained at a temperature of 25±2°C for 10 d and then at room temperature (30-32°C) for 2 wk, before transferring to a greenhouse. The regenerated plantlets showed 100% survival.

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