Vol. 8, Issue 7, Part C (2024)

Abstract: Plant growth regulators are important components for the healthy growth and development of plants in-vitro under aseptic conditions. Banana is a highly nutritious fruit with large number of extra benefits such as fiber, vitamins, and carbohydrates. It is the best remedy for stomach-related problems such as cramps and constipation. Invitro micropropagation being best method to produce disease and virus free healthy banana plantlets present experiment also performed using invitro micropropagation of banana under aseptic conditions. The present study focuses on studying effect of different plant growth hormones on banana varieties viz., Red banana, Monthan, Grand-naine, and Elakkibale. Suckers with shoot tips were used as a starting material for the micropropagation. Surface sterilized explant was inoculated on MS medium containing different combinations of growth hormones (2 mg/l BAP, 3 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l IAA and 4 mg/l BAP + 1 mg/l IAA and 5 mg/l BAP + 1.5 mg/l IAA) for the shoot initiation and development. Inoculated explant was kept under 16 hr light and 8 hr dark conditions for shoot initiation. Different parameters i.e., days to tissue swelling starting, colour change from white to green, days to first shoot emergence, number of shoots obtained, observing shoot growth and shoot length. Statistical analysis of obtained results showed that 3 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l IAA had best results on all the four banana varieties whereas, Grand naine showed maximum number of shoots in comparison to all the varieties studied in the experiment. In conclusion, accurate combination of growth hormones is important for the establishment of large number shoots. The higher concentration of BAP and IAA result in the reduced growth and development of inoculated explants.