Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Merina Prem Kumari S and Jeberlin Prabina B

Abstract:
The establishment of micropropagated banana plantlets is challenging in field conditions and in order to improve its sturdiness, the inoculation of beneficial microbes is carried out in the Matti banana plants regenerated in vitro using the immature male flowers as explant. In the present investigation, morphological, biochemical, nutritional and mineral content status of tissue-cultured Matti banana plantlets in response to nine treatments of beneficial microbial inoculants was studied. The results revealed that the treatment comprising of A. brasilense, B. megaterium, B. amyloliquefaciens and VAM mixed culture each 1 g in quantity was superior in enhancing the growth with respect to plant height, pseudostem girth and the number of leaves. The biochemical studies revealed higher chlorophyll, carotenoid and flavonoid content compared to the uninoculated control plants. With respect to nutritional status for carbohydrate, protein and fat content and also mineral composition for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium percentage also, there was significant accumulation. These results were indicative of better acclimatization or hardening of micro-propagated Matti banana plantlets through microbial inoculants, the reason being attributed to microbial rhizosphere providing protection from pathogenic organisms and enhanced nutrient uptake.