Effects of Mycorrhizal Inoculant on the Quality of Macropropagated Seeds and the Agronomic Performance of Plantain (Musa spp.)

The difficulties of nurserymen and producers of plantains in Côte d’Ivoire are the high mortality rate of seedlings and the delays of growth in the field. The aim of this study is to improve quality and agronomic performance of plantain seedlings produced by PIF technique (plantain seedlings production based on macropropagation). The plantain shoot bulbs were inoculated before being placed in the germinator and seedlings from germinator were inoculated again during the weaning phase at nursery with AMFs (Rhizophagus intraradices). Root mycorrhizal colonization, growth parameters such as girth, height, total leaf area, biomass and entry into production were measured in nursery and on the field. The results showed that the root colonization rate of the plants inoculated with R. intraradices inoculum was higher (30.59%) than that of the native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (2.78%). All inoculated plants survived while non-inoculated plants had 27.69% of mortality rate. Inoculated plants had higher growth than non-inoculated plants. The organs of inoculated plants also had higher biomass than non-inoculated plants. Eleven months after planting, nearly 50% of the inoculated plants had started production, while only 5.67% of the non-inoculated plants had started production. Mycorrhization improved the vigor and vegetative growth of plantain seedlings. It could therefore be used as a solution for a sustainable plantain culture.