Bananas and Plantains Family Musaceae Genus Musa Species

Bananas and Plantains Family: Musaceae Genus: Musa Species: M. acuminata M. balbisiana

Genus Musa Section Eumusa n Major species of economic importance – Musa acuminata (A genome) – Musa balbisiana (B genome) n Ploidy levels of commercial bananas – Diploid, AA and BB – Triploid, AAA, AAB, ABB – Tetraploid, AAAA, AABB, ABBB n Major evolutionary events – Probably millennia ago Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Types of Bananas n Banana – Desert banana, fresh consumption – AAA n Plantain – Cooking, Meal, Vegetable banana – Plátano, banano macho – AAB or ABB Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Banana Origin and Domestication Reached Europe by 1516 AAB ABBB Before 200 AD AB Industry developed in Late 19 th Century AAB AAA AAB Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University AA ABB AAAB

Adaptation: Hot Humid Tropics n Temperature – Frost free – Mean temperature of 27 C (80 F) – Minimum winter temp of 15. 5 C (60 F) n Moisture – Rain, 100 mm (4. 0”) per month n Soil – Good drainage is needed – Slightly acid, p. H 5. 5 to 6. 5 Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Banana Cultivation and Climate Most Banana/Plantain Production within Region with Winter Temperate Greater than 15. 5 C (60 F) and Rainfall greater than 1, 270 mm (50”) January 15. 5 C isotherm 1, 270 mm isohyets June 15. 5 C isotherm (Figure 6. 1 from Simmonds, 1966) Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Banana Cultivation and Climate Bananas Grown for Local Consumption January 15. 5 C isotherm B B B 1, 270 mm isohyets B B B B June 15. 5 C isotherm (Figure 6. 1 from Simmonds, 1966) Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University 1, 270 mm isohyets B B B

Banana Cultivation and Climate Bananas Grown for Export = T January 15. 5 C isotherm B T T TB T BT T B T BB 1, 270 mm isohyets B B B TB T B B B T T B B 1, 270 mm isohyets B T B B T June 15. 5 C isotherm (Figure 6. 1 from Simmonds, 1966) Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University B B B T T

Weather Problems n Wind – – – n 15 -20 mph - leaf damage, twisting, breakage 40 mph - considerable damage 60 mph - complete destruction Why – – – Pseudostem not as strong as woody stem Large leaves that catch wind Shallow root system Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

World Production (1, 000 s mt) FAOSTAT database, 2000 -2002 Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

World Production (%) FAOSTAT database, 2000 -2002 Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

World Production Leading Producing Countries FAOSTAT database, 2000 -2002 Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

World Production FAOSTAT database, 2000 -2002 n Production – Bananas, 72 million MT (56% Asia) – Plantains, 25 million MT (89% Africa) n Staple food for 70 million Africans – 90% grown on small farms and consumed locally – 10% exported from plantations n Latin America and Caribbean region Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

World Yields (mt/ha) FAOSTAT database, 2000 -2002 Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Plant Structure Monocot n Perennial herb – All leaves/inflorescence origin from under ground corm Spreads via rhizomes n Plants “walk” n – Largest plant without woody trunk n Pseudostem, leaf bases – Fruits once Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Banana Varieties n Gros Michel (Big Mike) – Leading cv for 100 years – Good production, cycle 13 -15 months – Tall plants (4 -8 m), wind damage – Good post harvest qualities Ripened uniformly n Resistant to bruising and discoloration n – Shipped as bunches – Susceptible to Panama disease n Replaced by Cavendish - resistant to Panama disease Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Banana Varieties n Cavendish – Currently the leading cv for export – Heavy production, cycle 11 months – Smaller plant (2 -3 m) - less wind damage – Marginal post harvest qualities Does not ripen uniformly - use special chambers n Susceptible to bruising and discoloration n – Shipped packed in boxes – Resistant to Panama disease Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Many Locally Important Varieties n Active breeding in Africa, South America, and Asia Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Flower Structure n Three types of flowers on inflorescence – Female flowers - develop into fruit – Hermaphroditic flowers – Male flowers n Fruit is a berry Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Banana flower Female Male Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Banana flower Three months from Female flowering to harvest Male Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Botanically the Banana is a Berry One pistil One or many seed Other Berries Tomato Kiwi Grape Seed Remnants Persimmon Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Production Cycle n Propagation – Vegetative – Rhizomes that are 6 -8” diameter – Planted within hours of digging – Special fields for production of rhizomes for new orchards n Nematode problems – Hot water treatment (65°C) – Chemical dips Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Planting n Density – 2. 9 m (8. 5’) square – 1, 812 pl/ha (725 pl/ac) n Size of export plantation – Need to supply 36, 000 mt/year – Yield 40 mt/ha -> 1, 000 ha – Supply 1, 000 mt/ship every 10 days – Four years to attain commercial production Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Production n Banana plants – Take 8 -9 months to flower 11 -14 leaves n Six leaves needed for good production n – Bunch take 3 months to develop – Fruiting cycle for Dwarf Cavendish is 11 months n Banana plants “walk” Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Training and Plant Selection n Banana plants “walk” – Select and train sucker for next crop to not interfere with growing bunch – When harvest fruit the sucker should be 2 m (5 -6’) – Eliminate suckers that are Poorly positioned n Too small n Unhealthy n Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Production Fruiting Stem 1 st Replacement Daughter 2 nd Replacement Grand daughter Fruiting Mat Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Panama Disease n Fusarium oxysporum – Caused the demise of Gros Michel – Plantains are generally resistant n Control – Resistant varieties – New strain of the pathogen in Asia overcomes Cavendish resistance gene n Need to develop a wider range of varieties for the export market Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Panama Disease Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Black Sigatoka Banana Leaf Spot n Mycosphaerella - Cercospora – Native to Southeast Asia n History – – – n Early 1960 s - Pacific and Asia Early 1970 s - Latin America Late 1970 s - Gabon in Africa - spread through Africa Symptoms – – – Small translucent pale yellow streaks Necrotic lesions (light gray w/ yellow halo) Lesions coalesce and destroy leaf Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Black Sigatoka Banana Leaf Spot n Yield Losses - by losing leaf area – – – n This is generally not a problem in mixed 50% yield loss Also cause premature ripening in harvested fruit Control – Mixed plantings n Generally not a serious problem – Monoculture n n Fungicides (Manzate) Resistant varieties Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Bagging of the Fruit n Weekly inspection – – – Last true hand is 4” long Remove terminal end of bunch Mark with ribbon - colors change with the week – Cover with perforated polyethylene bag n Why – Protection n Pests Damage from leaves Dust and dirt – Advance ripening Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Fertility n Forty tons of bananas per hectare – 80 kg N – 20 kg P 2 O 5 – 240 kg K 2 O= = 80 kg N = 9 kg P 200 kg K Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Supporting the Crop n 52% of plant weight is the raceme – Prop with poles – Guide lines to base of adjacent plant – Leaf pruning can reduce problems with wind damage Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Harvest n Crew harvests at 3 -4 day intervals – Look for colored ribbons which indicate age of bunch n Minimum size – 5 hands – Pick green, with certain size n Banana bunch weighs 90 -110 lbs – Two man operation – Hung on hook on cable system Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

n Cable system runs from banana field to the packing house Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Fruit Packing and Grading Separate into hands n Wash to prevent staining n Pack in boxes n Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Fruit Packing and Grading n Pack in boxes – Only pack unblemished fruit Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Post Harvest n Storage temperature – 57 - 59 F – Below 56 F may cause chilling injury n Bananas are ripened for marketing – 58 -64 F – Ethylene treatment Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Nutritional Value n 100 gm edible pulp – 85 calories, mostly carbohydrates – Vitamin, A, C, B 1, B 2, niacin – Minerals, very high in K n Reduce risk of high blood pressure and strokes Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

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