Response of banana cv. Malbhog (AAB) to in situ macro-propagation technique for the production of quality planting material in Assam

Initiation and stimulation of lateral bud development and sucker production is accomplished through decapitation and decortication method in banana. Experiment was conducted in the present study to produce quality planting materials of cultivar ‘Malbhog Banana’ and to enhance efficacy of macropropagation technique by using additives like fertilizer, bio-fertilizers and plant growth regulators. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications under field condition. This trial was carried out with suckers weighing 400–500 g in soil with decomposed cow dung (in situ). The treatments were T1(Control), T2 (Trichoderma viride), T3 (30 g BAP+30 g T. viride), T4(0.04% BAP), T5 (0.04% BAP+30 g enriched compost), T6 (30 g T. viride+0.04% BAP+30 g enriched compost), T7 (200 g Azospirillum and 200 g PSB in 10 kg of vermicompost), T8 (50 ppm GA3), T9(0.25% IBA) and T10 (100 g nitrogen/plant). All treatments tested, T3(18.94) followed by T4 (18.40) showed good response in terms of plantlet production and enhanced bud proliferation, growth and better root profiles but the lowest sucker (5.23) was produced by T8. The shortest time for primary sucker emergence (26.25 days) was recorded in T3. The weight of tertiary suckers varied significantly due to the treatment effect which ranged from 153.12 to 296.09 g at the end of hardening period.