In Vitro Growth Response of Raja Bulu Banana (Musa × paradisiaca L.) Plantlets to Varying Atonik Concentrations and Soaking Durations

Raja Bulu banana (Musa × paradisiaca L.) is a high-value commodity with significant economic potential; however, the availability of high-quality seedlings remains a major challenge in its cultivation. In vitro culture offers a promising solution for the rapid and large-scale production of uniform plantlets. This study aimed to determine the optimal concentration and soaking duration of the plant growth regulator Atonik for the in vitro growth of Raja Bulu banana plantlets. A completely randomized design (CRD) was employed, using two factors: Atonik concentration (0, 3, and 6 mL/L) and soaking duration (0, 10, and 20 minutes), resulting in nine treatment combinations with three replications each. The observed parameters included plantlet height, root length, and chlorophyll content. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the least significant difference (LSD) test at the 5% significance level. The results showed that Atonik application significantly influenced the in vitro growth of Raja Bulu banana plantlets, particularly in terms of plantlet height and root length. The most effective treatment was observed at a concentration of 3 mL/L with a soaking duration of 10 minutes. Higher concentrations tended to inhibit growth. Chlorophyll content did not show a significant response to the treatments, indicating that Atonik primarily affected morphological rather than physiological aspects of plantlet development.