Aseptic multiplication of banana is a major tool for rapid mass production of pathogen free plants. In this experiment,
comparative micropropagation growth was assessed in polyethylene glycol (PEG) stressed and Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV)
infected plantlets of banana (Musa spp.)cv., Basrai under aseptic conditions. This comparative study was conducted, when healthyand
BBTV-infected plantlet were multiplying [MS2
(8 mg L-1 BA, 2 g L-1 phytagel)] at 2ndsub-culture stage. They were transferred to fresh
media for 3rd subculture and labelled as MS2
(control),MS2b(BBTV-infected plantlets) and MS2c
(MS2
+ 5% PEG).After 6-weeks of
culture, lowest micropropagation efficiency was observed in PEG stressed cultures (3.25 ± 0.408 plantlets) than BBTV infected (4.50 ±
0.289 plantlets) and control cultures (5.75 ± 1.555 plantlets). Reducing sugars, proline, glycinebetaine contents and total carotenoids
were increased (p < 0.05) in PEG stressed as well as BBTV infected plantlets, while total sugars, proteins and nitrates were decreased
significantly.Phenolics were increased but relative water contents decreased with the decrease in shoot biomass in PEG stressed and
BBTV infected plantlets than control healthy plantlets(p < 0.05). This instability of organic and in-organic attributes in the micropropagated
plantlets reflects relative tolerance of plant growth in banana cultivar Basrai against the applied abiotic (PEG) and biotic
(BBTV) stresses.