Course Overview

Commercial Production of Disease-Free Banana Seedlings Through Tissue Culture

Course Code: MC55005
Course Title: Commercial Production of Disease-Free Banana Seedlings Through Tissue Culture
Start Date: September 20, 2025 📅
Duration: 26 hours (13 weeks, 2 hours per class) ⏰
Mode: Blended (primarily in-person, occasional online sessions) 🌐
Class Size: 20 participants 👥
Course Equivalent: 2 Credit Hours
Course Fee: 5,000 BDT (3,000 BDT with 40% early registration discount) 💸

Course Description 🚀
Commercial Production of Banana Through Tissue Culture (MC55005) addresses the critical need for disease-free, high-yielding banana planting materials in Bangladesh, where bananas account for 40% of fruit production but face yield losses from diseases (BBS, 2022). With tissue culture boosting yields by 30–50% (BARI, 2022), this course equips learners with practical skills to produce quality banana plantlets, meeting the demand for skilled technicians noted by BHTPA (2022). Through lab work, fieldwork, and entrepreneurial training, participants will drive agri-biotech innovation and agribusiness growth. 🌟

Syllabus 📚\

• Week 1: Intro to Banana Tissue Culture – Industry overview, benefits. Activities: Market discussion. Resources: BARI reports. 🍌\

• Week 2: Banana Biology – Morphology, life cycle, cultivars. Activities: Cultivar identification quiz. Resources: Plant Propagation by Tissue Culture. 📖\

• Week 3: Lab Setup – Design, clean zones, equipment. Activities: Lab planning. Resources: Laminar airflow, autoclave. 🧪\

• Week 4: Equipment & Safety – Autoclave, pH meter, safety protocols. Activities: Equipment demo. Resources: PPE, culture vessels. 🧤\

• Week 5: Media Preparation – MS media, growth regulators. Activities: Media formulation lab. Resources: Agar, sucrose. 🧫\

• Week 6: Tissue Culture – Explant sterilization, inoculation. Activities: Shoot multiplication lab. Resources: Laminar airflow. 🌱\

• Week 7: Incubation – Light, temperature, humidity control. Activities: Growth monitoring. Resources: Incubators. 🌡️\

• Week 8: Disease Management – Pathogen detection, control. Activities: Contamination lab. Resources: Diagnostic tools. 🔍\

• Week 9: Hardening – Acclimatization, shade house setup. Activities: Hardening practice. Resources: Potting mixtures. 🏡\

• Week 10: Field Transfer – Planting, irrigation, pest management. Activities: Field visit. Resources: Partner farms. 🚜\

• Week 11: Entrepreneurship – Nursery setup, cost analysis. Activities: Business plan workshop. Resources: BHTPA schemes. 💼\

• Week 12: Market Development – Marketing, export strategies. Activities: Market linkage plan. Resources: Export guidelines. 📈\

• Week 13: Project Writing – Nursery proposal presentation. Activities: Proposal submission. Resources: Project templates. 📝

Entry Requirements 📋\

• HSC or equivalent; preferably in biotechnology, agriculture, horticulture.

• Basic knowledge of plant biology, microbiology, lab safety.

• Minimum age: 19 years.

Career Pathways 🚀\

• Tissue culture technicians, nursery managers.

• Agri-biotech entrepreneurs, extension officers.

• Roles in ACI, Lal Teer, BADC projects.

• MSc/PhD in plant biotechnology, horticulture.

• Professional Certificate in Banana Tissue Culture.