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

Abstract: An experiment was conducted on primary hardened banana plantlets of the Grand Naine variety. Among the eight combinations of growing media, the combination T₅- comprising soil, vermiculite, and vermicompost in a 2:1:1 ratio produced the highest number of roots (6.87), leaves (5.27), leaf area (12.71 cm²), and survival percentage (80.25%). It also showed the highest stomata frequency per mm² on both the upper (37.33) and lower (129.67) leaf surfaces. The maximum shoot length (5.01 cm) was observed in T₄, which consisted of soil and vermicompost in a 2:1 ratio. In contrast, the soil only medium (T₁) recorded the shortest shoot length (3.56 cm), fewest roots (4.07), lowest number of leaves (3.93), smallest leaf area (10.27 cm²), highest survival percentage (39.64%), and lowest stomata frequency on both the upper (23.00) and lower (74.00) leaf surfaces. Media combination T₅- (Soil + Vermiculite + Vermicompost- 2:1:1 v/v) gives better performance in primary hardening.