Gas exchange and leaf area requirement for yield in Cavendish and Gros Michel Bananas

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate gas exchange and the leaf area requirement for yield in Cavendish and Gros Michel bananas. The cultivars Grande Naine, Calipso, Bucaneiro, FHIA-17 and FHIA-23, and two production cycles, were arranged in a completely randomized experimental design, in a factorial scheme, with five replicates. For the physiological characteristics, a 5x9x2 factorial arrangement was considered, with cultivars, evaluation periods and reading times. Cultivars Bucaneiro and Calipso require larger leaf area per unit produced and FHIA-23, smaller, which suggests a greater photosynthetic efficiency per leaf unit for FHIA-23, confirmed by the higher masses of bunches and hands and greater numbers of hands and fruits. Gas exchange varies with cultivars, evaluation periods and reading times. Cultivars FHIA-17 and Calipso, Gros Michel type, respectively showed higher photosynthesis and transpiration rates than Grande Naine, Cavendish type. Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, quantum efficiency of photosynthesis, instantaneous water use efficiency and carboxylation efficiency are higher at 8:00 h than at 14:00 h. The month of June allowed the cultivars to express the highest values of photosynthesis rates, incident radiation on leaves, carboxylation efficiency and stomatal conductance.