Banana (Musa paradisiaca) is a delicious and popular fruit, rich with nutritional values that benefit human health. The presented study sought to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulator (PGR) benzylaminopurine (BAP) in enhancing shoot proliferation and its somaclonal variation effect on fruit morphological variation in bananas. The research proceeded with simultaneous steps, including in vitro culture of horn bananas, BAP treatment, and acclimatization. The shoots treatment with three different concentrations of BAP comprised 0 mg L^-1 (control), 3 and 4 mg L^-1. Observations occurred on the number of shoots, the survival rate during acclimatization, and banana fruit productivity. The results revealed that BAP (4 mg L^-1) considerably enhanced the number of shoots in bananas. Explants treated with BAP (4 mg L^-1) were adaptive to the acclimatization stage, reaching a 100% survival rate. Bananas cultivated using BAP also exhibited morphological variations, with threefold enhanced fruit weight compared with the wild type, reaching 644.90 g. Physiological changes during in vitro culture stages revealed shoot initiation to acclimatization, resulting in morphological variations caused by somaclonal effects. These findings lead to understanding BAP as beneficial for crop improvement.

Keywords: Banana (M. paradisiaca L.), acclimatization, BAP, morphological variations, somaclonal effects, shoots, productivity

Key findings: Somaclonal effects induced by benzylaminopurine enhanced the morphological variations and fruit size in banana (M. paradisiacal L.).