EFFECT OF MATURE AND IMMATURE COCONUT WATER ON THE IN-VIVO MACRO-PROPAGATION

ABSTRACT

In this study, the in vivo macropropagation techniques was employed using Shelled corms from three cultivars (FHIA 18, BITA 3, HEX UKIWE). Three treatments: mature coconut water (10ml), immature coconut water (10ml) and distilled water (control-10ml) were tested. The treatments were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD). The decorticated banana and plantain corms were injected with coconut water and then placed in sterilized soil in high humidity plastic bowls. From results, mature coconut water (10ml) significantly reduced the emergence time of shoots at 23.9 as against 32.8 and 28.2 for immature coconut water as well as the treatment for control, respectively. Likewise, immature coconut water and mature coconut water (10ml) both recorded the largest number of sprouted buds per corm and number of shoots per corn. With respect to banana and plantain effect, BITA 3 and HEX UKIWE showed the largest number of shoots per corm. Basing on such findings, it is concluded that the addition of coconut water to corms is a suitable technique for improving of the in vivo macro-propagation of banana and plantain. Coconut water significantly increased sucker production.