Biostimulant influence on morphological and agrochemical characters in banana (Musa AAA cv. Williams)

Abstract

Some of the limitations for plant acclimatization in vitro in banana cultivation have been poor rooting and slow leaf development, which affect survival in the field under stress conditions after planting. The aim of this study is to compare seedling response of Musa cv. Williams treated with biostimulants and commercial de-stressing agents. Thirty days after inoculation, pseudostem diameter (cm), fresh plant mass (g), fresh root mass (g), root number, soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) index, edaphic ionic content and foliar content (pH, CE, NO3-, K+, Na+ and Ca2+) were evaluated. Preliminary results indicated, that StresSal® and (StresSal® + Equilibrium®) showed significantly greater pseudostem diameter. The highest radical fresh mass corresponded to (Inicium® + StresSal®). Root number was not significantly different. The SPAD index was elevated when StresSal® was applied alone or with Equilibrium®. The treatment (Inicium®+StresSal®) contributed to higher soil acidity. Conductivity (CE), K+ and Na+ were higher when Inicium® + Pro- Fulvic® were applied. As NO3- levels increased with Inicium®, Ca2+ ions decreased significantly in soil with Inicium® + StresSal®. Regarding foliar content, the highest pH corresponded to Inicium®, conductivity (CE) was higher with StresSal® and Inicium® + StresSal®, without difference with the control. An increase in NO3- was found with Inicium® + StresSal®. While Na+ and Ca2+ were significantly higher with Inicium® + Pro-Fulvic®