Morpho-physiological responses of tissue-cultured “lakatan” banana to rooting medium, acclimatization protocol, and light intensity

Date

7-2026

Abstract

Lakatan (Musa acuminata) is a popular dessert banana in the Philippines, but its production remains constrained by weather-related losses and disease susceptibility. Although tissue culture can provide uniform, disease-free planting materials, its successful field establishment depends on effective acclimatization and hardening. This study evaluated the effects of activated charcoal supplementation during the in vitro rooting stage, acclimatization protocol, and light intensity progression on the hardening performance of tissue-cultured 'Lakatan' plantlets. Results showed that activated charcoal supplementation did not improve growth, whereas ex-vessel acclimatization showed better growth, physiological stability, and biomass accumulation during subsequent hardening than in-vessel acclimatization. Consequently, plantlets rooted in MS+IBA medium and acclimatized ex vitro were used for a six-week hardening under three light intensity progressions ranging from 114-911 μmol m-2 s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Although all treatments achieved 100% survival, LX (113→349→911 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD) produced the highest growth performance, biomass. canopy area, root number, and pseudostem diameter, followed by LH (114→26→571 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD) and LM (114→187→308 μmol m-2 s-1 PPFD). All treatments also showed increases in leaf thickness and stomatal density during hardening, and their chlorophyll content and photosynthetic capacity were comparable at the end of the hardening period. Nevertheless, LX-treated plantlets exhibited greater realized photosynthesis and photoprotective regulation under the PPFD specific to their treatment, indicating improved enhanced tolerance to higher irradiance. Measurement of antioxidant enzyme activities and electrolyte leakage also suggests enhanced oxidative stress regulation under LX and LH treatments compared to LM, although these responses were not statistically significant. Overall, these findings indicate that the LX treatment resulted in better plantlet quality and hardening performance, indicating this is the most effective light intensity progression for developing practical light-management strategies in the hardening of tissue-cultured ‘Lakatan' banana plantlets.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree

Master of Science in Botany

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Maribel L. Dionisio-Sese, DSc

Committee Member

Dr. Emmanuel L. Bernardo, Dr. Nonnatus S. Bautista

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

En – AGROVOC descriptors

MUSA ACUMINATA; TISSUE CULTURE; GROWING MEDIA; ACCLIMATIZATION; PROTOCOLS; PLANT MORPHOLOGY; DISEASE RESISTANCE; ACTIVATED CARBON; IN VITRO CULTURE; HARDENING; CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT; ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

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