Thovhogi, F.Murovhi, N. R,Marima, Phyllis Mighty2026-01-152026-01-152025-09-05https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3077MSCAGR (Horticultural Sciences)Department of Plant and Soil SciencesBanana is an essential food crop because of the commercial and nutritional advantages it offers. It provides vital nutrients and has some health benefits. The two main challenges farmers face are high production costs and difficulties in obtaining clean pathogen-free propagules. Propagation of suckers through tissue culture (micropropagation) is expensive and requires high technical skills. Alternatively, the macropropagation technique is affordable, requires basic materials, does not require advanced skills, and has never been practiced in South Africa. Moreover, the technique can be enhanced through growth media and hormone treatment. The current study explored the use of organic substrate macadamia husk and organic additive moringa on macropropagation of bananas in Vhembe District. Two experiments were conducted at the ARC-TSC research farm in Levubu. The first experiment investigated the influence of different substrates on bud initiation and growth of banana suckers propagated through Plants isus de fragments de tiges (plants issued from stem fragments (PIF)) technique. The second experiment examined the effect of moringa leaf extract on bud initiation and growth of banana suckers propagated through the PIF technique. Both experiments were laid out as randomised complete design, replicated 3 times with experiment 1 having 4 treatments (macadamia husk compost (MHC), pure sand, sawdust, and a mixture at a ratio of 1:1:1 of all the substrates). Experiment 2 had 5 treatments of different concentrations of moringa leaf extracts (MLE) (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%). The data collected for both experiments was the number of corms germinated, the number of days to first sucker emergence, number of sprouted buds per corm, number of roots per corm, number of suckers transplanted, sucker height, sucker diameter, number of leaves per sucker, number of roots per sucker and sucker root length. Data was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS and the means were separated using the least significant difference at 5% probability level. The results for the first experiment showed that MHC substrate recorded short number of days to first sucker emergence. The third transplanting cycle produced suckers with high number of leaves per shoot (NLPS), number of roots per shoot (NRPS), and long shoot root length (SRL), the first transplanting cycle produced tall suckers with thick pseudo-stem diameter (PSD). A highly significant positive correlation was observed between number of roots per shoot (NRPS) and NLPS as well as SRL and NLPS. The study revealed that MHC substrate produced more suckers, especially during the first transplanting cycle and therefore can be recommended as a substrate in the production of banana suckers. The results for the second experiment showed that 4% concentration of MLE produced high number of buds sprouted (NOBS), number of roots per corm (NORPC) and total suckers transplanted per treatment (TSTPT). The first transplanting cycle produced high number of suckers transplanted with high shoot height (SH) while third transplanting cycle produced suckers with long SRL. A weak positive correlation was found between NLPS and PSD, NRPS and NLPS, and SRL and NRPS and NLPS. The study concluded that the concentration of 4% may be recommended in bud initiation of banana plantlets using PIF technique. Moreover, the first transplant produced large quantity of suckers that were tall in all the two seasons.1 online resource (xviii, 104 leaves)enUniversity of VendaBananaUCTDMacopropagationPIFMoringa leaf extractOrganic growth additivesMacadamia husk compostSubstrateDissertatationTY - Dissertatation AU - Marima, Phyllis Mighty AB - Banana is an essential food crop because of the commercial and nutritional advantages it offers. It provides vital nutrients and has some health benefits. The two main challenges farmers face are high production costs and difficulties in obtaining clean pathogen-free propagules. Propagation of suckers through tissue culture (micropropagation) is expensive and requires high technical skills. Alternatively, the macropropagation technique is affordable, requires basic materials, does not require advanced skills, and has never been practiced in South Africa. Moreover, the technique can be enhanced through growth media and hormone treatment. The current study explored the use of organic substrate macadamia husk and organic additive moringa on macropropagation of bananas in Vhembe District. Two experiments were conducted at the ARC-TSC research farm in Levubu. The first experiment investigated the influence of different substrates on bud initiation and growth of banana suckers propagated through Plants isus de fragments de tiges (plants issued from stem fragments (PIF)) technique. The second experiment examined the effect of moringa leaf extract on bud initiation and growth of banana suckers propagated through the PIF technique. Both experiments were laid out as randomised complete design, replicated 3 times with experiment 1 having 4 treatments (macadamia husk compost (MHC), pure sand, sawdust, and a mixture at a ratio of 1:1:1 of all the substrates). Experiment 2 had 5 treatments of different concentrations of moringa leaf extracts (MLE) (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%). The data collected for both experiments was the number of corms germinated, the number of days to first sucker emergence, number of sprouted buds per corm, number of roots per corm, number of suckers transplanted, sucker height, sucker diameter, number of leaves per sucker, number of roots per sucker and sucker root length. Data was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS and the means were separated using the least significant difference at 5% probability level. The results for the first experiment showed that MHC substrate recorded short number of days to first sucker emergence. The third transplanting cycle produced suckers with high number of leaves per shoot (NLPS), number of roots per shoot (NRPS), and long shoot root length (SRL), the first transplanting cycle produced tall suckers with thick pseudo-stem diameter (PSD). A highly significant positive correlation was observed between number of roots per shoot (NRPS) and NLPS as well as SRL and NLPS. The study revealed that MHC substrate produced more suckers, especially during the first transplanting cycle and therefore can be recommended as a substrate in the production of banana suckers. The results for the second experiment showed that 4% concentration of MLE produced high number of buds sprouted (NOBS), number of roots per corm (NORPC) and total suckers transplanted per treatment (TSTPT). The first transplanting cycle produced high number of suckers transplanted with high shoot height (SH) while third transplanting cycle produced suckers with long SRL. A weak positive correlation was found between NLPS and PSD, NRPS and NLPS, and SRL and NRPS and NLPS. The study concluded that the concentration of 4% may be recommended in bud initiation of banana plantlets using PIF technique. Moreover, the first transplant produced large quantity of suckers that were tall in all the two seasons. DA - 2025-09-05 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Banana KW - Macopropagation KW - PIF KW - Moringa leaf extract KW - Organic growth additives KW - Macadamia husk compost KW - Substrate LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2025 T1 - Effects of Macadamia integrifolia husk substrate and Moringa oleifera leaf extract on macro propagation of banana (Musa spp.) using the Plants Isus de Fragments de tiges (plants issued from stem fragments (PIF) technique TI - Effects of Macadamia integrifolia husk substrate and Moringa oleifera leaf extract on macro propagation of banana (Musa spp.) using the Plants Isus de Fragments de tiges (plants issued from stem fragments (PIF) technique UR - ER -