Abstract

A series of experiments were carried out to observe the effects of rhizobacterial and agrobacterial inoculation, singly or
combined on the total content, concentration and distribution of the biochemical components (total soluble protein,
soluble nitrogen, proline, peroxidase activity, total soluble phenolic, nitrate reductase activity, nitrate, chlorophyll),
physiological characteristics (percentages of growth, number of roots, fresh and dry weight of roots, maximum and total
length of roots) and mineral contents (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) of in vitro banana plantlets, Berangan cultivar (AAA) using
MS basal medium. The aims of this study are to determine the influence of various rhizobacteria sp. and Agrobacteria
sp. inoculation, singly and combined on biochemical and physiological changes of the important banana plantlets in
Malaysia, Berangan cultivar (AAA).Results from the inoculation study using MS basal medium were indicated that inoculation with rhizobacteria (Azospirillum brasilense Sp7, Bacillus sphaericus UPMB10 and Microbacterium
oxydens UPMB11) or agrobacteria (Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains, AR9402 and A4) showed positive response on
growth of in vitro banana plantlets compared to uninoculation after one month of experiment. The inoculation
treatments also increased the number of root, fresh and dry weight of roots and total length of root. In addition with
inoculation, the total content or concentration of the respective biochemical activity as total soluble protein, peroxidase,
nitrate reductase, proline, nitrate, soluble nitrogen, phenolic and chlorophyll of the host plants increased and varied
according to the type of bacteria used. Inoculation with these bacterial also enhanced the accumulation of N and P in the
banana plantlets. Co-inoculation with rhizobacteria (Azospirillum brasilense Sp7, Bacillus sphaericus UPMB10 and
Microbacterium oxydens UPMB11) and agrobacteria (Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains AR9402 and A4) also showed
similar response as in single inoculation; UPMB10+AR9402 treatment was the most effective treatment. The above
finding provided evidence that Azospirillum brasilense Sp7, Bacillus sphaericus UPMB10, Microbacterium oxydens
UPMB11, Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains AR9402 and A4, singly or combined are potentially effective in promoting
growth of in vitro banana plantlets. Inoculation of rhizobacteria was showed beneficial to the banana plantlet in saline
conditions through increment of growth and improvement in rooting system. Thus, these bacterial strains could be used
as a bioenhancer for growth of in vitro banana plantlets

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