Asexual propagation methods are the primary means for banana production

In vitro plantlets were established in Murashige and Skoog
(MS) culture medium [24] supplemented with benzylaminopurine (BAP; 8.8 μM) and
sucrose (30 g L−1

). The pH was adjusted to 5.8, and the medium was solidified with agar

(agar–agar, Sigma Aldrich Inc., St. Louis, MO, USA) at 8 g L−1.

Additional advantages of LEDs include the longer life and smaller size of light-emitting
diodes compared to fluorescent bulbs, with very little heat generation [3]. In addition,
LEDs may influence the growth and production of secondary metabolites in plants, such as
those reported for Pfaffia glomerata [12]. The spectral distribution of the light affects plant
growth mainly via photosynthesis, and it affects plant morphology. Plant morphology
is also affected by photon flux density; therefore, there may be an interaction between
these effects. Understanding these effects and these interactions is required to control plant
growth and morphology using LEDs [13].
Because of the high sterility and polyploidy of cultivated or domesticated banana
varieties and hybrids [14], asexual propagation methods are the primary means for banana
production. However, many diseases, such as black sigatoka, fusarium wilt, banana
bunchy top virus, burrowing nematodes, and banana weevil borer [15], are associated
with traditional propagation techniques [16–18]. Therefore, micropropagation has become
a common practice for the production of bananas, thus assisting with the production of
clean, disease-free plant material [16,19,20]. The tissue culture of bananas also allows
large-scale mass in vitro clonal propagation of elite banana varieties, free of diseases. The
use of LEDs in micropropagation could provide higher-quality banana plants with the
benefit of reduced energy costs. LEDs have been studied previously for banana in vitro
cultures [21–23] with a focus either on specific wavelengths, LED ratios, or lower intensities
(45 to 75 μmol m−2
s
−1 PPFD).

Therefore, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the growth and develop-
ment of in vitro ornamental bananas as affected by different light sources, including simple

LED and traditional fluorescent lighting. In addition to the growth and development
parameters of two in vitro ornamental banana varieties, relative chlorophyll content, leaf
stomata, and anatomy characteristics were also evaluated.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Plant Material and Culture Establishment
Two varieties of ornamental bananas, Musa ‘Little Prince’ and Musa ‘Truly Tiny’,
were obtained from AgriStarts, Inc. (Apopka, FL, USA). They are dwarf varieties of dwarf
Cavendish, with a compact habit and thick dark green leaves. Musa ‘Little Prince’ has thick
trunks and is generally used as an ornamental indoors or as a landscape plant outdoors.
Musa ‘Truly Tiny’ is extremely dwarf and produces the smallest edible fruits in the world.
Both are desirable as ornamental plants and commonly produced via tissue culture, and
have similar growth rates.