Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part R (2025)

The present research entitled “Effect of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) and growing media on macropropagation of banana (Musa spp.) cv. Grand Naine” was carried out during April to August 2025 at research farm of Dr. YSRHU – Banana Research Station, Pulivendula (semi‑arid southern agro‑climatic zone, Andhra Pradesh). The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Completely Randomised Design (FCRD) with sixteen treatment combinations and three replications per treatment to assess the influence of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and growing media on macropropagation of banana (Musa spp.) cv. Grand Naine. Factor -I represents Plant Growth Regulators (T) which includes T₁ – 40 ppm BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine), T₂ – 50 ppm BAP, T₃ – 60 ppm BAP, T₄ – 250 ppm IBA, T₅ – 300 ppm IBA, T₆ – 10 ppm GA₃, T₇ – 20 ppm GA₃ and T₈ – control. Factor -II represents Growing media (G) which includes G₁ – Cocopeat and G₂ – Sawdust. Among PGRs, 60 ppm BAP (T₃) significantly accelerated initiation of primary suckers (18.95 days), secondary suckers (58.70 days) and produced the highest number of primary suckers (4.87), secondary suckers (16.72), and total suckers (21.60) per rhizome. Cocopeat outperformed sawdust in earlier sucker initiation and higher sucker counts. A significant interaction was noted for days taken for initiation of primary suckers, number of secondary suckers, and total sucker number, with (T₃G₁) 60 ppm BAP + cocopeat yielding optimal results. The findings demonstrated that BAP’s efficacy in overcoming apical dominance, facilitating bud break, and improving sucker proliferation. This has promising implications for cost‑effective banana macropropagation in semi‑arid regions.