Effect of fertilization and size of the corm on the multiplication of bananito seed (Musa AA)

Abstract

Baby Banana is preferred in national and international scenarios; however, availability and access to quality seed is limited. One mechanism to increase clonal supply is through plant material multiplication in thermal chambers. Ten treatments were selected as a result of two-factor combination (fertilization and corm weight); T1: with fertilization, corm 50-100 g; T2: with fertilization, corm 100-200 g; T3: with fertilization, corm 200-300 g; T4: with fertilization, corm 300-700 g; T5: with fertilization, corm 700-1,000 g; T6: without fertilization, corm 50-100g; T7: without fertilization, corm 100-200g; T8: without fertilization, corm 200-300g; T9: without fertilization, corm 300-700g and T10: without fertilization, corm 700-1,000 g. Hill height, pseudo stem thickness and leaf number variables were evaluated. After 6 weeks, it was found that main effect was produced by corm weight, ≥300g corms resulted in higher values for each variable, 300 to 700 g corms were the best for propagation. Fertilization only affected leaf number. The results provide important criteria to implement a plant material multiplication process either for self-providing or business.

Keywords

• quality
• plant material
• musaceae
• production