Stimulation of Suckering in Banana (Musa spp. L.) Rhizomes

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to determine the influence of soaking of banana rhizomes in 6-benzyladenine (BA), on sucker production. The treatments were five concentrations of BA 0.0 mg/l (control) 50mg/l, 100 mg/l, 200 mg/l and 400 mg/l. Prior to planting, rhizomes were soaked for 30 minutes in one of these five concentrations. BA at 200 mg/l stimulated suckering after nine months from planting. The effectiveness of BA in breaking bud growth in banana rhizome seems to be influenced by the period of soaking before planting. For optimum response to BA increasing period of soaking is required. The results indicated that soaking in BA may be a useful method for stimulating and increasing suckering in banana plant.