Cultural management of Lakatan cv. banana (Musa acuminata) using information on biomass partitioning

Identifying morphological indicators to delineate the critical growth stages of local banana cultivar, Lakatan (Musa acuminata) through biomass partitioning is an important tool in providing information needed for suitable cultural management. For lakatan receiving 100 percent recommended fertilizer (RF), six and nine months after transplanting, leaves (33-36 percent) dominate the percentage allocation for dry matter (DM) followed by the stem (25-32 percent), sucker (20 percent), corn (14-8 percent) and roots (0.30-1.93 percent), respectively. If compared with the classification developed by Turner (1972) on the phases of banana growth, these periods would fall on early and late vegetative stage of Phase 3. At ten months after transplanting, leaves were replaced by the stem in terms of highest percentage DM, the percentage increase on the DM for sucker production is starting to be evident. More so, at this stage, presence of apex is already noticeable on the pseudostem, indicative of the on-set of the reproductive stage or phase 4. At 14 months after transplanting, sucker comprises almost 36 percent of the total biomass followed by stem with 20 percent. Leaves obtained its lowest percentage DM allocation of only 12 percent while corm of mother plant has shown no significant change at 14 percent. Fruit (trunk and hands) weight two weeks before harvesting obtained an 18 percent share on total biomass. Vegetative growth characterized the first nine months after transplanting while reproductive stage starts on the tenth month. The reduction in the percent allocation of DM on stem as plant approaches maturity is an indication that propping is indeed necessary in providing additional support to the developing fruit. Increments on the DM allocated for sucker development through time denote the importance of desuckering. Proper and timely desuckering would limit sink competition. Complete desuckering is encouraged up to the sixth month; selection of a single follower thereafter insures harvest continuity without sacrificing optimum yield.