Abstract

In this study, we investigated for the first time the effect of neem oil as an organic additive on the quality of in vitro banana plantlets during the rooting and acclimatization stages. Treatments at different concentrations of neem oil on rooting media were added and evaluated. The results showed that the addition of neem oil to the rooting medium had an effect on the establishment of in vitro shoots and the development of in vitro plantlets during the hardening stage. Among the different concentrations, when 0.5 mL/L neem oil was added to the rooting medium, the plantlet height, root number, root length, and plantlet weight were better than those of the control plantlets. Higher concentrations of neem oil (1–2 mL/L) in the medium inhibited the growth of in vitro plantlets. Consequently, these treatments affected their development in the acclimatization stage. The results showed that an appropriate concentration of neem oil had a significant effect on the quality of in vitro banana plantlets. Thus, this study highlights the potential application of a new organic additive in banana culture as well as in other species to improve the quality of in vitro plantlets.

Key words: rooting induction, neem oil, banana, acclimatization, tissue culture.