Response of initiation media treatment and use of pgr on Macro-Propagation of Cavendish Banana Cultivars

Macro-propagation of banana is done using the principle that when strong apical dominance of banana plant is suppressed by decapitation and decortication (removal of the apical meristem), it gives rise to production of many side suckers. Evaluation of macropropagation practice using sawdust as initiation media, supplemented with various biofertilizers results in highest number of uniform sized tertiary bud production when the decorticated corm cavity was poured with 40ppm BAP (4ml) and the media is supplemented with Bacillus subtilis alone and along with VAM. This treatment also performed better regarding shortest time requirement for production of first primary bud and percent production of sword suckers, and other vegetative growth characters.