Low-cost tissue culture production and nursery establishment of lakatan in Ilocos Region [Philippines]

Four ppm benzyl amino purine (BAP) added as cytokinin in Murashige and Skoog (MS) base medium is the optimum level needed to increase the number of shoots and roots of in vitro lakatan plantlets. Shoot length and number of leaves were not affected by the change in concentration of BAP. Use of purified water is comparable to distilled water in preventing contamination 6 weeks after inoculation (WAI) and in effecting root and shoot induction 3 WAI. Thus, purified water can be used as substitute for distilled water. Purified water has undergone the ozonization process, which killed the microorganism present and removed the endotoxin products of the decomposition process. Substituting sucrose with refined sugar did not affect the number and length of shoots produced by the explants one month after inoculation. The longest shoots produced were similar to those inoculated in commercial agar powder (2.00 cm), which was similar to those inoculated in chemical grade agar (1.80 cm) and white gulaman bar (1.48 cm). The agar sources used in root induction of meriplants of lakatan banana have the same effect on the number and length of shoots, and length of roots. Although not statistically significant, more roots were produced from meriplants inoculated in MS media with commercial agar powder (13.2) than those inoculated with chemical grade agar (7.7). The cost of producing one meriplant of lakatan banana in vitro using the recommended MS media is Php. 3.59 while the cost using the modified formulation is Php. 1.76. It is cheaper to produce one rooted meriplant using the modified formulation (Php. 0.93) than the recommended media (Php. 1.52). The cost of producing one lakatan plantlet ready for plotting out using the recommended media is Php. 10.64 while the cost using the modified formulation is Php. 8.22. Plantlets grown in two parts carbonized rice hull and, 1 part ordinary garden soil in nursery management of lakatan attained a maximum height of 23.92 cm at 8 weeks after planting (WAP). The potting media provided better water retention and good drainage allowing shorter period for nursery management thus, lowering its cost. The leaves are also greener and more robust compared with plants grown in other soil mixtures tested. Covering the newly potted out banana plantlets with bottle resulted in higher survival at 93.33% compared with those uncovered at only 46.67% survival. Covering the newly potted out banana plantlets for 7-10 days, regardless of height resulted in high survival of 90-100%. Covering the newly potted plantlets created higher relative humidity in the immediate environment of the plantlets, which prevented desiccation. Potting out taller plantlets (7-10 cm) of Lakatan resulted in higher survival (76.67%) than smaller plantlets (3-6 cm) with 63.33%. Daily application of urea solution (1 tbsp urea per 16 L water) to one month-old tissue cultured banana plantlets produced taller and healthier plantlets 4 weeks after treatment (WAT).