Maturation of micro-propagated plantlet influences vegetative and yield performances in banana Kluai Khai (AA)
2009
Suvittawat, K. | Silayo, B. | Karintanyakit, P. | Saradhuldhat, P.
Banana 'Kluai Khai' (AA) is commercially grown in Thailand with suckers as conventional plant materials. A new clone 'KB2' was recently released by Kasetsart University in Thailand. Subsequently, micro-propagated plantlets were required for mass propagation. The appropriate maturation of plantlets and plant performance of micro-propagated plants compared with conventional suckers were questions. This research aimed to investigate how maturation of micro-propagated plantlets affected the field and fruit performances. A randomized complete block experiment was set up at Pakchong Research Station in Thailand (15 deg N, 101 E at 450 m MSL). The 'KB2' micro-propagated plantlets, acclimatized in a nursery for 4-6 months, and suckers were planted and compared for vegetative morphology and yield components during the first crop. All the micro-propagated plants exhibited apparently more vigorous vegetative developments than the plants from the suckers. The micro-propagated plants produced 5-6 more leaves, as well as significantly larger leaf and pseudostem sizes, than sucker plants. Moreover, the micro-propagated plants gave higher fruit yield and quality than the sucker plants. The four-month-acclimatized micro-propagated plantlets tended to provide proper vegetative and yield performances over the others. The results revealed that four-month acclimatization was an appropriate maturation for micro-propagated 'KB2' plantlets. All of the micro-propagated plants exhibited more vigorous vegetative developments with slightly higher fruit yield compared to the sucker plants.
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