Macropropagation: Effect of micronutrient on stimulation of axillary bud in banana (musa aab)

Abstract

A study was undertaken at Banana Research Station and department of fruit science of Kerala Agricultural University with the prime objective of studying the influence of micronutrients Zn and B on the stimulation of axillary buds in the macropropagation of banana cv Nendran (AAB genomic group) and secondary aim of identifying the most efficient treatment dose. The micronutrients were Zn as ZnSo4 7H2O at 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 per cent concentration and B as Na2B4 O7 at 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 per cent concentration individually and in combinations. The experiment were conducted in two ratoons. The results revealed that Zn at 0.1% in the first and Zn at 0.5% recorded the maximum number of suckers in first and second ratoons respectively. The plant nutrient analysis also revealed that the treatments that recorded higher number of suckers also recorded higher levels of Zn and B content.