The absorption of the nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) by banana (Musa sp.) cv. Prata Anã explants on the basic medium of Murashige & Skoog (1962) supplemented with sucrose (30 g/L) and BAP (3.5 mg/L) were evaluated at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after inoculation. The seven treatments were arranged on a completely randomized design with three replicates. The sequence of nutrient absorption by the explants was K > N > Ca > or = P > Mg <FONT FACE=Symbol>@</FONT> S. The P was the nutrient with the fastest absorption rate and at the 30th day the explants had already absorbed 75% of the P from the medium. The P absorption stopped by the 50th day. The S absorption stopped at the 50th day with 66% of it remaining in the medium. The results suggested a close relationship between these two nutrients. The highest rates of nutrient absorption were observed during the first 20 days of culture. The rhizome, pseudostem and leaves behaved differently to the extraction and accumulation of nutrients.
Musa; tissue culture; dry matter; nutrients
