In vitro Regeneration and Acclimatisation of Banana cv. Malbhog

Banana (Musa paradisiaca) cv. Malbhog is a very popular banana cultivar in the North Eastern part of India. A method has been developed to multiply it in vitro to standardise the best multiplication and rooting media for banana and hardening of rooted plantlets for field transfer using different potting mixtures. Media formulation using BAP alone or in combination with NAA were used for shoot initiation and multiplication. Minimum number of days for shoot initiation (18.4), the longest length of shoot (5.1 cm) and a maximum number of shoots/ explant (4.2) was obtained on PGR combination NAA 0.5 + BAP 5.0 mg/l.Half strength MS media supplemented with IBA 1.5 mg/l was found significantly higher over all other auxin treatments for various rooting parameters. This combination gave the best response in terms of root formation frequency (66.7%), least number of days for root formation (18), maximum no. of roots/explant (3.8) and longest length of the root (4.0 cm). Maximum survival frequency was found in case of coco peat (89%) followed by sterile soilrite (79%). Plant morphology in terms of plant height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf number, etc. coco peat gave better result over other potting media.