Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Library Department, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Obute, G.C., Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Aziagba, P.C., Library Department, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Tissue culture regenerated materials of Musa spp. (Banana and Plantain) along with their somaclonal variants were assessed for karyotype abnormalities to be used as rapid chromosome markers. Results indicate that the slight variations noticed in karyomorphometric characters like chromosome number, chromosome arm lengths, total complement length and total complement volume were not significant (P ≤0.05). It follows, therefore, that chromosomal abnormalities may not be accurate markers for somaclonal variation in these species. A few cases of aneuploidy were encountered and the need not to overemphasize chromosomal instability was highlighted; however, other causes of somaclonal variations are proposed to be explored to explain the phenomenon in Musa spp.