Response of Meriplant Lakatan Plantlets Derived from Tissue Culture on Different Concentrations of Carrageenan

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The Philippine economy is largely dependent on agriculture. Banana is one of the major crop products that greatly contribute in Philippine economy. On 2016, Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director Stephen Antig said that Philippine banana industry may perish. There is a low yield and low production of lakatan banana that are subjected to drought (Perez, 2017). From this, the research entitled "The Response of Meriplant Lakatan Plantlets Derived from Tissue Culture on Different Concentrations of Carrageenan" aims to create a new and innovated fertilizer to enhance the growth speed of the plant.

METHODS

To fulfill the main goal of creating a new and innovated fertilizer to enhance the growth speed of the plant, 60 meriplant lakatan plantlets were gathered and fermented carrageenan was prepared. The experimentation holds the processes of planting and watering the meriplant lakatan plantlets, and application of treatments. Waste materials were treated according to the proper disposal management of University of the Philippines -LosBanos.

RESULTS

Results showed that the lower concentrations of carrageenan had an effective result compared to higher concentrations. in comparison with the control and other treatments, it was revealed that there was a significant response on 25% carrageenan treatment. One-way ANOVA showed an F value of 329.74 which was greater than the F-critical value of 3.35. Thus, rejecting the null hypothesis. The 25% carrageenan was the best growth promoter among all other concentration. The carrageenan was able to act as an effective growth promoter on meriplant lakatan plantlets derived from tissue culture. Some problems encountered were the heavy rain and strong wind due to typhoon season. Although these problems affected the results of the plant treatments, remaining plants were able to show data of increase in height, diameter, and number of leaves that exhibit the possibility of carrageenan to be used as a plant growth promoter.

DISCUSSIONS

The concentration of carrageenan that shows the best growth is 25%. Low concentrations of carrageenan plant growth regulator were said to effective to enhance the yield of rice (Villorente, 2016). This research has proven carrageenan treatment is a potential effective plant growth promoter to meriplant lakatan plantlets derived from tissue culture.