Timing of Bunch Pruning Management Enhances Bunch and

Timing of Bunch Pruning Management Enhances Bunch and Fruit Qualities of ‘PITA 24’ Plantain (Musa AAB) Hybrid 1 Baiyeri, K. P. ; 1 Aba, S. C. and 2 Tenkouano, A. 1 PITA 24 Dept. of Crop Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. 2 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, P. M. B 5320, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

INTRODUCTION n Many pests and diseases, especially black leaf Sigatoka disease (Mycosphaerella fijiensis), have significantly affected Musa cultivation over the years and have spurred genetic improvement programs. n The use of resistant cultivars is considered the most appropriate component in efforts to control the diseases. Improved genotypes could be readily adopted by farmers. n ‘PITA 24’, a secondary triploid plantain-derived hybrid is among the Musa genotypes recently selected by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) for biotic stress tolerance and improved yield. Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

Introduction … § This genotype produces a very large bunch of about 9 -12 hands (nodal clusters), but only the first four to five proximal hands are properly filled to marketable fingers. n Fruit size is an important commercial characteristic for markets specializing in plantains. Therefore, the poor fruit-filling feature of ‘PITA 24’could have a negative impact on its adoption potential. n Recent studies on ‘PITA 24’ (Aba et al. , 2009 & Baiyeri et al. , 2009) proved that the selective removal of male bud and few distal hands from a developing bunch has the potential to increase the size and grade of harvested fruits. Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

Introduction … n However, reports on sink-source modifications in banana fruit growth differ between studies; and may be related to differences in fruit age at the time bunch pruning was performed. § Westwood (1978) noted that the earlier and heavier ‘thinning’ or ‘pruning’ is done, the larger the final fruit size. § appropriate In many fruit trees, pruning when applied at the time improves fruit size, colour and organoleptic qualities, reduces limb breakage, hence producing fruits of more alluring appearance at harvest. § Pruning, assures that assimilates are not wasted on the nonessential portions of the bunch, but channelled for the optimum growth of the remaining fruits. Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

Objective This study investigated the post-anthesis period at which bunch pruning would be most effective in enhancing the bunch and fruit qualities of ‘PITA 24’ plantain. Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

Materials and Methods: Experimental Site: The experiment was conducted at the High Rainfall Station of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Onne (40 43'N, 70 01'E, 10 m a. s. l. ), Rivers state Nigeria. Design of Experiment: Bunch pruning (i. e. , removal of two distal hands and the male bud) was applied at full anthesis (at the opening of the last female hand) or at weekly intervals of 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks thereafter. These were compared with a noprune control in a randomized complete block design of four replications. Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

Data Collection Data were collected at harvest on the following n n n Bunch weight Number of hands & fingers per bunch Number of properly filled fruits n Bunch fill index n n Weights of hands 1 - 6 (proximal hands) Mean fruit weight, length & girth of 4 middle fingers per hand Pulp fresh weight Fruit edible proportion n Pulp dry matter content n Days to fruit-filling (i. e. , time lapse between flowering and harvest) n Harvest index n Fruit yield (tonnes) per hectare Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

Data Analysis n The data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) following RCBD model using GENSTAT Release 7. 2 DE (GENSTAT, 2007). n The separation of treatment means for significant effects was by least significant difference (LSD) at 5 percent probability level as described in Steel and Torrie (1980). Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

Results n Bunch and fruit quality traits generally improved with bunch pruning until 3 weeks after bunch anthesis (see Table below). n There was a drop in bunch-fill index, number of properly filled fruits, harvest index, fruit yield and individual fruit size when pruning was delayed for 4 weeks after full bunch anthesis. n The best quality fruits were obtained when pruning was applied immediately after the opening of the last female hand (i. e. , at full bunch anthesis). Fruit traits on Figure 1 showed clearly that quality of fruits improved with pruning up till 3 weeks after bunch anthesis. Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15

Table 1: Bunch and fruit traits as influenced by time of pruning application

Ie. CAB 2010 Juneas 1 -15 Figure 1: Bar charts showing the fruit quality traits influenced by time of bunch pruning

Conclusion and application of findings § Our results confirmed that bunch and fruit qualities of plantain could be improved through a judicious and timely application of bunch pruning. § For optimum result, bunch pruning management should not be delayed beyond 3 weeks after the opening of the last female hand. Ie. CAB 2010 June 1 -15