ENHANCED IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF MUSA ACCUMINATA INDUCED BY HUMIC ACID FROM COAL EXTRACT AS COMPARED WITH COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE HUMIC ACID PRODUCTS

Humic acids (also known as the black gold of agriculture) are complex molecules that exist naturally in humic matter found in soils and are an excellent natural and organic way to provide soil with a concentrated dose of essential nutrients, vitamins and trace elements. A source of humic acids is found in soft brown coal referred to as Leonardite. The Humic acid was extracted from Leonardite collected from Neyveli and it was estimated. The estimated Humic acid was used for the micropropagation of Grand Naine (Musa accuminata) at five different concentrations (0.1 – 0.5%) and compared with commercially available Keradix and Humic Rooting. The various trials were used to check the growth propagation of the Humic acid in full MS media, ¾ MS media, ½ MS media and ¼ MS media and comparison was made among the samples in full MS. After the micropropagation, the explants were selected for the initiation stage and the proliferation stage. The Rooting and Shooting stage were developed in the media with the Humic acid of all the samples against the control of various concentrations and the characteristics such as the Length, height, weight of the roots and shoots were studied and the best concentration for the growth of plants using Humic acid and the media were reported.