CSIR-CRI Tissue Culture Plantain and Banana Project Holds Inception Meeting
An inception meeting was held on Tuesday, 1st March, 2022 at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute to officially launch the project “Optimization of Tissue Culture (TC) Bioreactor Systems and Efficiency of Post-Flask Manipulations for Cost Effective Mass Propagation of Plantain and Banana Seedlings.” The project, a collaboration between the Institute and the CSIR– Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute (CSIR-PGRRI), is being funded by the CSIR Head Office in Accra.
In his opening remarks, the Director of the Institute, Prof. Moses Brandford Mochiah, pleaded with project team members to take active part in all project activities. He was very hopeful that the project will lead to the production of large quantities of healthy plantain and banana suckers generated from TC techniques. He also emphasized the need for team members to put in extra hours of work and also run project activities concurrently due to the enormous workload and the short gestation period of the project.
Dr. Victor Acheampong Amankwaah, the Principal Investigator presented the purpose of the meeting to members. He said it was to orient team members on the various activities of the project, help them get acquainted with project goals and expectations as well as foster a strong network of team spirit as the project commences. His presentation also touched on the value of optimization of bioreactor systems and post-flask manipulations that seek to strengthen the seed system for plantain and banana focusing on building a very strong linkage between scientists and farmers.
Participants then visited the CSIR-CRI TC laboratory and screenhouse facility to familiarize themselves with ongoing activities. A detailed work plan was then presented and discussed.
List of contributors: Victor Acheampong Amankwaah, Bernard Sakyiamah, Augustine Ofosu, Peter Amankwaah, Enoch Osei-Tutu, David Kow Amo, William Aidoo, Enoch Bobie Agyemang.
