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

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

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

Banana Origin and Domestication AA AAA AAB ABB AABB AAAB ABBB AB Industry developed in Late 19th Century Reached Europe by 1516 Before 200 AD Earliest records - Greek, Chinese and Arabian manuscripts Alexander the Great in 327 BC found in flourishing in India Chinese traders carried to Polynesians before 2nd century AD First brought to Europe in 1516 by Tomas de Berlanga, a priest AA AAA AAB Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Adaptation: Hot Humid Tropics Temperature Frost free Mean temperature of 27 C (80 F) Minimum winter temp of 15.5 C (60 F) Moisture Rain, 100 mm (4.0”) per month Soil Good drainage is needed Slightly acid, pH 5.5 to 6.5 Simmonds, 1966- need 4” rain per month and avg temp of 80F ASHS 12, Slide set, 80F and 1.5-2” rain per week 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 June 15.5 C isotherm 1,270 mm isohyets (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 June 15.5 C isotherm 1,270 mm isohyets B (Figure 6.1 from Simmonds, 1966) Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Banana Cultivation and Climate Bananas Grown for Export = T January 15.5 C isotherm June 15.5 C isotherm 1,270 mm isohyets B T Major producers (Figure 6.1 from Simmonds, 1966) Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Weather Problems Wind 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 (1,000s mt) FAOSTAT database, 2000-2002 Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

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

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

Plant Structure Monocot Perennial herb All leaves/inflorescence origin from under ground corm Spreads via rhizomes Plants “walk” Largest plant without woody trunk Pseudostem, leaf bases Fruits once Gigantic herb largest plant on earth without a woody stem trunk is a pseudostem, consisting of the bases of the leaves all leaves including the fruit inflorescence origin from the under ground corm Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Banana Varieties 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 Resistant to bruising and discoloration Shipped as bunches Susceptible to Panama disease Replaced by Cavendish - resistant to Panama disease Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Banana Varieties 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 Susceptible to bruising and discoloration Shipped packed in boxes Resistant to Panama disease Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

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

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

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

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Banana flower Female Three months from 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 Persimmon Seed Remnants Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

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

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Planting Density 2.9 m (8.5’) square 1,812 pl/ha (725 pl/ac) 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

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

Training and Plant Selection 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 Too small Unhealthy Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

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

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

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Panama Disease Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Black Sigatoka Banana Leaf Spot Mycosphaerella - Cercospora Native to Southeast Asia History Early 1960s - Pacific and Asia Early 1970s - Latin America Late 1970s - 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 Yield Losses - by losing leaf area This is generally not a problem in mixed 50% yield loss Also cause premature ripening in harvested fruit Control Mixed plantings Generally not a serious problem Monoculture Fungicides (Manzate) Resistant varieties Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Bagging of the Fruit 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 Why Protection Pests Damage from leaves Dust and dirt Advance ripening Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Fertility Forty tons of bananas per hectare 80 kg N = 80 kg N 20 kg P2O5 = 9 kg P 240 kg K2O = 200 kg K Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Supporting the Crop 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

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

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

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

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

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

Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University Nutritional Value 100 gm edible pulp 85 calories, mostly carbohydrates Vitamin, A, C, B1, B2, niacin Minerals, very high in K Reduce risk of high blood pressure and strokes Tropical Horticulture - Texas A&M University

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