The Establishment of Seed Germination Methods for Five Accessions of Wild Bananas ( Musa acuminata )

Abstract

Rich in nutrients and genetic diversity, wild bananas are vital for breeding resilient, pest-resistant new varieties and protecting biodiversity. Despite their breeding value, wild bananas face cultivation challenges due to low, unpredictable seed germination and the lack of standard germination testing methods. This study evaluated germination timing and methods for five wild banana accessions using two experiments, the first employing a completely randomized design. Daily normal seedling percentages were recorded for 60 days, followed by a two-factor randomized complete block design for the second experiment. The first factor was wild banana accessions as the first experiment. The second factor was the six germination condition treatments, which were combinations of light intensity (50 and 100%) and media humidity (70, 80, and 90%). Germination counted from day 16 to 26. For SPN 001 and LNT 001, full light (100%) and 70-90% humidity yielded the highest germination (70.80-88.80%), while subsp. microcarpa, DMS 001, and SGR 001 performed best (2.00–12.40%) under low light (50%) and 90% humidity. SPN 001 showed the best overall germination and seed vigor among the five M. acuminata accessions.