Conversion of Banana Synseed Influenced by the Bead Type and Seed Coat

Banana shoot tips extracted from in vitro grown plant materials were encapsulated in different types of alginate beads. The results obtained after conservation for one month at 4?C indicated that single layered synseeds (where the encapsulated shoot tip was covered by one layer of the artificial endosperm) containing activated charcoal were the best construction in stimulating conversion of synseeds, where they expressed the highest; conversion frequency, number of shoots/synseed, length of shoot and fresh weight/shoot cluster. These parameters decreased when the shoot tips were encapsulated within two layers of endosperm, except the ex vitro conversion. Conversion of banana synseeds was influenced by explant orientation inside the alginate beads, the highest conversion frequency was obtained when the shoot tip was directed upward inside the synthetic endosperm. Synthesis of seed coats around the artificial endosperm improved the conversion frequency, number of shoots/synseed and shoot length.