Field evaluation of five clones of tissue-cultured bananas in northern New South Wales
1994
Johns, G.G. (New South Wales Agriculture, Alstonville (Australia))
The performance of 5 clones of tissue culture (TC) banana plants (Chinese Cavendish, 2 Mons Mari clones, and 2 Williams clones) and 1 clone propagated as suckers (Williams) was monitored in the field over 2 crop cycles. TC offtypes became evident during the first year. Total offtypes in the field ranged from 1 to 63 percent for different clones. Dwarf offtypes produced 6 percent fewer bunches than normal plants. Many mosaic offtypes died during the trial, and overall they produced 34 percent fewer bunches than normal plants. Dwarf offtypes produced 41 percent of the marketable fruit of normal plants during the trial, while mosaic offtypes produced only 7 percent. TC plants produced their first crop 60 days earlier than plants from suckers; thereafter bunch to bunch intervals were similar. TC plants also produced 40 percent more suckers during the first 18 months in the field. Yield parameters were not significantly different during the first ratoon, but in the second ratoon TC plants had 5 percent more fingers and 9 percent greater total fruit weight. In the clonal comparison Chinese Cavendish was the shortest plant, had below-average finger size, and its production of marketable fruit was below average. Mons Mari-WR was the tallest clone with the longest fruit, and the highest production of marketable fruit. Other clones were intermediate in height and production.
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