Morphological Variation in The Leaf Shape of Banana Kepok Tanjung (Musa paradisiaca L.) Derived From Tissue Culture
Abstract
Banana seedlings produced through tissue culture exhibit both narrow and broad leaves shape. Assessing these leaf shapes in field conditions is limited regarding their morphological changes, growth, and yield. This research undertook a comprehensive morphological analysis to investigate the development of narrow and broad leaves in banana Kepok Tanjung, from the seedling phase to field conditions. The study was conducted in Solok, West Sumatra, from January 2024 to July 2025. The study involved transplanting tissue-cultured narrow and broad leaves banana Kepok Tanjung seedlings into the field, totaling 70 plants (35 with narrow leaves and 35 with broad leaves) after the emergence of 5-8 leaves. Sixty morphological traits, including the pseudostem, leaves, inflorescence, and fruit, were observed following guidelines established by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). The findings revealed that variations in narrow and broad leaves morphology were evident in five vegetative growth parameters: plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf number. In contrast, 55 qualitative morphological traits and reproductive features remained consistent between the two phenotypes. The genetic similarity based on leaf shape morphology of banana Kepok Tanjung was 0.957. The UPGMA cluster dendrogram formed a single cluster with a genetic distance of 0.96, indicating close genetic relationships. This research helps in identifying key leaf traits that improve the classification and selection of banana Kepok Tanjung seedlings derived from tissue culture for better growth. It is recommended that users study these traits further to enhance breeding programs and improve management practices for banana cultivation.
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