Acclimatization of micropropagated banana seedlings in different substrates and recipients

Abstract

The objective of present study was to evaluate the effect of substrates and recipients on development of banana seedlings. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design, using three banana cultivars (Prata Anã, Tropical and Grande Naine), two banana clones (Prata Gorutuba and Prata Catarina); three kinds of substrates: A substrate (soil + sand + earthworm humus + shavings) in the proportion 3:1:1:1 (v/v); Bioplant® and Vivatto Slim® commercial substrates; and two kinds of recipients: plastic trays and plastic tubes, in a 5 x 3 x 2 factorial scheme, with four replicates and two plants per plot. The following characteristics were evaluated: survival index, growth characteristics, relative chlorophyll content, fresh and dry matter of aerial parts and roots. Except for survival index, with an average of 97% obtained in all treatments, the seedlings acclimatized in plastic trays presented better results for all characteristics studied. The Vivatto Slim® commercial substrate provides the best seedling development during acclimatization phase. The seedlings from tetraploid ‘Tropical’ cv exhibited greater vigor, while the ‘Grande Naine’ seedlings showed less increment after 60 days of acclimatization.