Evidence that banana (Musa spp.), a tropical monocotyledon, has a facultative long-day response to photoperiod

Abstract

Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) may flower at any time of the year but they show seasonal variation in flowering. To determine whether photoperiod contributed to this seasonal variation, we calculated the thermal development units (DT) from planting to bunch appearance (flowering) using data from published planting date experiments in the tropics and subtropics. Minimising the coefficient of variation in DT across planting dates was used to evaluate the contribution of photoperiod and soil water balance to time of flowering. Coefficients evaluating sensitivity to photoperiod were estimated in some datasets and validated on independent datasets. Data on the rate of bunch appearance from four locations over several years were analysed to establish correlations between this, photoperiod and temperature. The time of bunch initiation was matched against photoperiod to determine whether short photoperiods delayed bunch initiation. Long photoperiods in the mid-vegetative phase hastened flowering while soil water deficits delayed it. Cultivars of the Cavendish subgroup (AAA) were more sensitive to photoperiod than the Maricongo cultivar (False Horn-type plantain, AAB). Long photoperiods during the reproductive phase were correlated with an increased rate of bunch appearance some 8 to 11 weeks later. Musa spp. show a facultative long-day response to photoperiod.

Seasonality in nutrient content of banana diagnostic leaf

“…1062, respectively. Variations between the accumulated Degrees-days between cultivars and/or harvesting periods are common, as stated by Fortescue et al (2011) who observed variations of 46% in the accumulated Degreesdays, for the complete development (planting to harvest) of bananas plants of different species and / or implemented at different periods, in Puerto Rico.…”

Cyanobacteria From Brazilian Extreme Environments

“…The total number of GDD for the year was then converted to the number of leaves by dividing by 108 o C, the number of GDD needed to generate a new leaf. Some effect of photoperiod on GDD accumulation has been shown by Fortescue, Turner and Romero (2011), but that effect was not included in this analysis. The calculation of number of leaves/year by means of TDU uses GDD reduced by the effects of water limitation.…”

“…The soil water balance (Wf) was estimated monthly, from the ratio of rainfall/potential evaporation (Rain/PET), taking Wf as 1.0 if the ratio fell between 1.0 and 1.1. If Rain/PET was above 1.1 then Wf = 1 + 0.2 (1-Rain/PET), allowing for a negative effect for excess of water (Fortescue et al, 2011).…”

Gestión de los recursos hídricos

“…Durante periodos de déficit de agua la emisión de hojas se detiene y el ciclo productivo se prolonga, mientras que durante periodos de saturación de los suelos la productividad puede verse amenazada (Fortescue et al 2011 …”