The effects of in vitro hardening using triazoles on growth and acclimatization of banana

Banana shoots micropropagated from floral apices were grown in Stage III culture media with 0, 1, 2 or 4 mg l(-1) of triazoles (triadimefon or uniconazole) for 1 month. The resulting plantlets were then transferred to a peat moss and sand (1:1, v/v) potting mix and post-transplant performance was evaluated. In vitro triadimefon treatment (2 mg l(-1)) acted as a conditioning agent and obviated the need for hardening or weaning the plantlets under a polyethylene tent. Triadimefon-treated plants were turgid and healthy compared with control plants. Control plants which were not acclimatized wilted, and the leaves dried up, whereas plants treated with triadimefon, particularly with 2 mg l(-1), remained turgid. All plants treated with uniconazole dried up upon transplanting.