EXPERIENCES OF THE COMMERCIAL APPLICATION OF THE TECHNIQUE OF RAPID REPRODUCTION OF SEED (TRAS) IN PLANTAIN IN RIVAS AND NANDAIME

Abstract

The conventional propagation of plantain (Musa spp.) through
shoots from the mother plant, besides its low multiplication
rate, facilitates the plagues and disease dissemination. The
rapid multiplication technique, an alternative in healthy plant
production, was utilized for the multiplication of Plátano
Enano (PE) and CENSA ¾ (C 3/4) plantain cultivars in two
nurseries in Rivas and Nandaime. 19 propagation beds were
used in each location. In Rivas 3 933 PE and 2 307 C ¾ corms
were sown in construction sand (CS) and soft water beach sand
(BS) as substrates at 2.5 cm between corms, microaspersed
and fertilized with 15-15-15 NPK. In Nandaime 6 962 PE
corms were sown in CS, watered manually, and fertilized with
Super Fértil and Super Calcio. Plants growing from corms of
both cultivars were incised and sown in plastic bags, in Rivas
on a mixture of sand-organic matter-soil, in Nandaime in soil.
The shooting index (SI) per corm in localities, cultivars and
substrate types was calculated. In Rivas the SI for PE was
4 and 4 for C ¾. In Nandaime the SI for PE was 3. The SI
for PE established in CS was 5 and 3 in BS. The better SI of
PE obtained in Rivas could be explained by the immediate
utilization of fresh corms and shoots with better physical
conditions compare with corms used in Nandaime. 17 039
PE and 9 052 C ¾ plants in Rivas and 21 637 PE plants in
Nandaime were produced. The SI registered in both localities
and cultivars are lower that those reported in the UNAtechnical
guide. Recommendations of the technical guide-
UNA in corms field selection, sowing distance and time to
collect plants were not accomplished.

Keywords: Rapid multiplication technique; plantain; shooting
index; commercial application.

DOI: 10.5377/calera.v9i13.17