Elimination of Hard Lumps in Malbhog Banana (Musa, AAB) by Application of Growth Regulators and Micronutrients

Combined effect of different plant growth regulators and micronutrients on incidence of hard lump of Malbhog banana was observed at Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Pundibari, West Bengal for main and ratoon crop. Combinations of GA₃ (@0, 50, 100 ppm) and 2,4-D (@ 0, 50, 100 ppm) as foliar spray along with borax (soil application @ 0, 1, 2 g/plant; foliar application @ 0, 0.25, 0.50 %) and zinc sulphate heptahydrate (soil application @ 0, 2, 4 g/plant and foliar application @ 0, 0.25, 0.50 %) were used as the sources of boron and zinc respectively at 3rd, 5th and 7th months after planting. The hard lumps separated from the ripe banana fruits to record different observations. Colourless or brownish coloured, large sized lumps were detected with high fruit pressure from most of the control treatments (no growth regulators and micronutrients). Most soft fruits with minimum or no lumps recorded in GA₃ and 2,4-D (both @100ppm). Among the soil application of micronutrients 1g borax with 2g zinc sulphate/plant application and foliar application of both the borax and zinc sulphate @ 0.25% resulted best with respect to fruit pressure and less incidence of lumps.