Preliminary investigation of the effects of gibberellic acid GA3 on sucker development in plantain Musa cv AAB under field conditions



  • Authors : Swennen, R.; Wilson, G.F.; De Langhe, E.A.L.

  • Document type : Journal article

  • Year of publication : 1984

  • Journal title : Tropical Agriculture

  • Volume (number) : 61 (4)


  • Peer-reviewed : Yes

  • ISSN : 0041-3216

  • Language(s) : English

  • Abstract : The delay of sword sucker development until after floral initiation and the apparent cessation of apical dominance in plantains is believed to be the major cause of poor ratoon development and, consequently, rapid yield decline in succeeding ratoons. Gibberellic acid (GA3) at concentrations of 10-2M, injected into peepers at two-day intervals for two, four and six weeks, stimulated sword sucker development before floral initiation after two weeks of treatment. Since treatment duration had no significant effect, it is suggested that sword sucker development is the response to GA flushes and that GA flushes affect only peepers that are physiologically sensitive to GA at the time of flush. Therefore, it is possible for dormant peepers and active sword suckers to be present on the same mother plant. The injected GA3 had no abnormal effect on the treated sucker or the mother plant.

  • Keywords : PLANTAIN; GIBBERELLIC ACID; SUCKERING; PLANT GROWTH STIMULANTS

  • Open access : No

  • Document on publisher's site : close View article on publisher's site

  • Musalit document ID : IN170204


Generate Citation