Effect of plant growth regulators on the early growth of tissue cultured banana plants (cv. Grand Naine)

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of several growth regulators on the early growth of banana plants (cv. Grand Naine) at Horticultural Farm, Department of Horticulture and Post-Harvest Technology, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharti, Srinikatan, West Bengal, during 2021-2022. Six different combinations of two growth regulators, viz. GA3 (100, 150 and 200 ppm) and NAA (50 and 100 ppm) were used in combination with a control treatment (no growth regulators) in three replications under a randomized block design. According to the final observation taken at 75 DAP, the maximum plant height (56.33 cm), number of leaves/plant (8.47), and pseudostem diameter (25.72 cm) were observed under T5 (GA3 @ 150 ppm + NAA @ 100 ppm). The greatest sizes with respect to total leaf length (36.71 cm), leaf lamina length (28.06 cm) and breadth were also observed under the same treatment. Thus, the performance of banana plants at an early stage was markedly influenced by the application of different growth regulators, and the combination of GA3 @ 150 ppm and NAA @ 100 ppm was the most effective combination of plant growth regulators for improved growth and development of tissue-cultured banana plants.