Explain the relevance of “Totipotency” and “Somaclones” in raising healthy banana plants from virus infected banana plants.

Totipotency is the ability of a cell to give rise to a whole new plant which allows the meristematic tissues of a banana plant to grow in a culture medium. The meristematic tissues don’t get infected by virus. The totipotency allows them to form the callus. This way totipotency helps in raising a healthy banana plant from virus infected banana plant.

Somaclones are plants which are morphologically as well genetically similar to the parents and are produced through tissue culture. Hence somaclones give rise to healthy banana plants from virus infected banana plants.