Comparative evaluation of agrochemical treatments on in vivo macro-propagation of three Musa spp. Cultivars

Abstract

Musa spp. are globally important crops, serving as staple foods in many regions, particularly southern Nigeria. However, production often falls short of market demand due to challenges such as low-quality suckers and limited sucker availability. This study evaluated the response of three Musa spp. cultivars (Hex Agbagba, FHIA 20, and FHIA 23) to two agrochemical treatments (Digro and Supergro) under in vivo macro-propagation. A 3 × 3 factorial experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. Corms were cross-cut to suppress apical dominance, sterilized with neem leaf extract, air-dried for 72 hours, and planted in propagators containing river sand and sawdust under shade. Results indicated that Supergro produced the highest shoot collar girth (12.18 cm), followed by Digro (10.46 cm) and control (10.40 cm). The interaction between cultivar and agrochemical treatment was highly significant, demonstrating the potential of Supergro in enhancing vegetative growth and survival.