*3.1. In Vitro Growth and Development*

The light source had no significant effect on most in vitro growth and development parameters evaluated for both banana varieties, including stem diameter, shoot and root fresh weight, leaf number, shoot and root length, and shoot and root dry weight (Table 1). However, 'Little Prince' plantlets produced under LED-1 and LED-2 showed larger overall plantlet fresh weight and shoot length compared to plantlets under fluorescent lights, while 'Truly Tiny' plantlets showed higher fresh weight only under LED-1, but no differences in shoot length.


were conducted separately for each parameter evaluated.

**Table 1.**

Evaluation of light quality and light level effects on in vitro growth and

development

 parameters

 for two ornamental

 banana varieties;

#### *3.2. Relative Chlorophyll Content*

Significant differences were shown in relative chlorophyll content among the different light sources and banana varieties (Figure 2). In general, the relative chlorophyll content of plants under LED lighting showed greater SPAD values compared to plantlets under fluorescent lamps. SPAD values were 36.84 for 'Little Prince' and 41.54 for 'Truly Tiny' under LED-1, 31.62 for 'Truly Tiny' and 40.92 for 'Little Prince' under LED-2, and 24.12 for 'Little Prince' and 24.56 for 'Truly Tiny' under fluorescent lamps (Figure 2). However, relative chlorophyll content was not significantly different between plantlets of both varieties under LED-1 and LED-2, but higher than FL, with the exception of 'Truly Tiny' under LED-2, which had similar values to both varieties under FL. The leaves of plantlets under LED-1 and LED-2 showed a dark green color, while the leaves of plantlets under FL had a yellowish-green color.

**Figure 2.** Relative chlorophyll content of two banana varieties, Musa Little Prince (LP) and Musa Truly Tiny (TT) after 4 weeks of in vitro culture under different light sources, LED-1 (116 μmol m−<sup>2</sup> s<sup>−</sup>1) LED-2 (90 μmol m−<sup>2</sup> s<sup>−</sup>1) and FL (100 μmol m−<sup>2</sup> s<sup>−</sup>1). Values with the same letter are not significantly different at α = 0.05 level based on LSD mean separation. Bars represent standard error.
