The Response of Tissue Cultured Banana (Musa sapientum Linn.) Plantlets cv. Lakatan to Potting Media and Controlled Release Fertilizers

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the response of tissue-cultured banana plantlets to potting media and controlled release fertilizers. This was conducted at the Plant Tissue Culture Nursery, ASSCAT, San Teodoro, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur from January 4 to March 4, 2017. Five potting media A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 (saw dust, empty fruit bunches of oil palm, carbonized rice hull, corn cobs, and coir dust) and application of controlled release fertilizers B0, B1, and B2 (complete fertilizers , Osmocote Plus, and Osmocote) were used respectively. The experiment was laid out in two-factor Factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The recorded data were analyzed statistically using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 1% probability level. Plantlets bagged with coir dust obtained the tallest plant height (cm), largest stem diameter (cm), the longest length of leaves (cm), broadest leaves (cm), and heaviest biomass weight (g). Whereas, number of leaves were observed in the plantlets bagged with carbonized rice hull. Likewise, plantlets applied with Osmocote Plus (15-9-12) had the tallest plant height (cm), largest stem diameter (cm), several numbers of leaves, longest length (cm) of leaves, broadest leaves (cm), and heaviest weight (g). Tissue-cultured lakatan banana plantlets potted either in coir dust or carbonized rice hull with the application of Osmocote Plus (15-9-12) enhanced the best growth performance during
the vegetative stage.