2026/04/16 by M.S. Saraswathi, Mahendran Jayakumar, Sharmila Gayatri Durairajan +5 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Medicine · #Banana Cultivation and Research #Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agriculture #Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
paper · doi:10.1080/14620316.2026.2652881
openalex publication_date 2026/04/16 · openalex created_date 2026/04/18 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
Small-scale farmers in northeastern India, who raise pigs and cattle, depend on bananas as a crucial feed and fodder source. However, limited accessibility and slow propagation rates hinder the consistent supply of planting material. In this study, macropropagation, a cost-effective and farmer-friendly technique, was employed to produce quality banana plantlets with minimal infrastructure and investment. Twenty-five banana genotypes representing diverse genomic groups (AA, AAA, BB, AAB, ABB, ABBB, and Rhodochlamys) native to the northeastern region were evaluated across seasons. Results revealed that AAA and AAB genomes exhibited superior performance, producing the highest number of buds per corm. Within the AAA group, ‘Amrit Sagar’ recorded the maximum bud production (29.20), followed by ‘Borjahaji’ (26.20), ‘Manjahaji’, and ‘Bharat Moni’ (26.00 each). Among AAB types, ‘Malbhog’ (29.40) and ‘Cheenichampa’ (28.60) performed best. These genotypes also produced the highest number of plantlets per corm, with the rainy season outperforming the summer. The findings demonstrate that the climatic conditions of northeastern India favour macropropagation, ensuring a sustainable supply of planting material of cultivated types and biomass from wild types for livestock feed and fodder. Overall, macropropagation proved highly effective for mass multiplication, with shoot production significantly influenced by variety, genomic composition and season.