The “Hands-on Training in Banana Tissue Culture Methods and Techniques: From Lab to Plantation” program was successfully organized by Central Philippines State University (CPSU) for the banana farmers of Murcia’s Villa Carolina Agrarian Reform Cooperative.

The training program was conducted with resource persons: Dr. Catherine C. Arradaza and Mr. Roden D. Troyo, faculty members of Visayas State University (VSU), together with the faculty of CPSU’s College of Agriculture and Forestry and Murcia Extension Class.

In partnership with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Negros Occidental 1 – North, CPSU’s Extension and Community Services Office (ECSO) headed by Dr. Jimmy O. Degillo, Research and Development Services Office (RDS) headed by Dr. Angelie Rose L. Lumba, and CPSU Murcia Extension Class headed by Dr. Joe-an Mae G. Escober, organized the event.

The activity, funded by CPSU - ECSO in partnership with DAR Negros Occidental 1 – North, took place on December 4–6, 2025, at the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory of Villa Carolina Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Brgy. San Miguel, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

Its primary objectives were to: (1) deliver hands-on training in the methods and techniques of banana tissue culture, encompassing laboratory procedures through to grow-out culture; and (2) to support the cooperative in operationalizing the newly established tissue culture laboratory facilities and nursery for banana propagation.

During the training, participants from the Murcia-based cooperative were trained for thirty-two hours, to: (1) understand the basics of tissue culture; (2) identify sustainable banana varieties for tissue culture; (3) manage a banana tissue culture laboratory setup; (4) recognize and troubleshoot common contamination issues; (5) handle and harden plantlets for field transplanting; (6) apply tissue culture techniques in a practical farming context; (7) and evaluate cost-benefit aspects of tissue culture farming.

Interactive lectures and multimedia presentations were delivered on topics such as the basics of plant tissue culture and micropropagation, banana plant physiology and propagation challenges, and the role and significance of tissue culture in banana cultivation.

Laboratory demonstrations and practical exercises included explant selection and preparation, media preparation and sterilization techniques, aseptic techniques and inoculation of explants, as well as subculturing and multiplication stages.

CPSU continues to deliver relevant training programs for the community to address the rising local and international demand in the face of declining productivity brought about by pests, diseases, and reliance on traditional propagation methods through technology like tissue culture which offers a modern, efficient, and sustainable solution to the concerns.

Photo Credits: Research and Development Services Office