Yield and Fruit Quality Traits of Two Plantain Cultivars Grown at Two Locations in Puerto Rico under Black Leaf Streak Disease Pressure

Abstract

<jats:p>Plantain (<jats:italic>Musa balbisiana</jats:italic> AAB) is a tropical rhizomatous perennial plant in the genus <jats:italic>Musa</jats:italic> spp., closely related to banana (<jats:italic>Musa acuminata</jats:italic> AAA). It is an important cash crop and staple for inhabitants in many parts of the world, including various ethnic groups in the United States. Black leaf streak disease (BLSD) or black sigatoka, caused by <jats:italic>Pseudocercospora fijiensis</jats:italic> (formerly <jats:italic>Mycosphaerella fijiensis</jats:italic>), is responsible for significant losses of this crop due to the high susceptibility of the most economically important cultivars. BLSD does not immediately kill plantain plants, but it causes severe leaf necrosis, which results in reduced photosynthetic area, thereby adversely impacting bunch weight and fruit production. Without cultural and chemical control, yields can be reduced by 20% to 80%, depending on severity. This study evaluated a BLSD-resistant cultivar, FHIA-21, against Maricongo, a standard commercial cultivar with no BLSD tolerance, at two locations in Puerto Rico on Ultisol (Corozal site) and Oxisol (Isabela site) soils. Total number of fruit and bunch yield were significantly higher at Isabela, with BLSD severity being significantly lower at this location. Average fruit production of ‘FHIA-21’ was significantly higher than that of ‘Maricongo’ at both locations, with fruit yields of 122,522 and 99,948 fruit/ha at Isabela and Corozal, respectively. Overall, fruit of ‘FHIA-21’ were significantly longer and had greater diameters than those of ‘Maricongo’. At Isabela, the mean bunch fruit weight was significantly higher for ‘FHIA-21’, but both cultivars exceeded the minimum local marketable fruit weight criterion of 270 g. At both locations, the numbers of functional leaves present at flowering and at harvest were significantly higher for ‘FHIA-21’ than for ‘Maricongo’, indicating more availability of photosynthetic area for ‘FHIA-21’ during the fruit-filling period. There were no significant differences between cultivars regarding the concentration of starch and soluble sugars for green fruit. Regarding ripe fruit, ‘FHIA-21’ had a significantly higher concentration of soluble sugars and less starch. In this study, ‘FHIA-21’ had good resistance against BLSD and, if accepted by consumers, is a viable alternative to current commercial cultivars. We also conclude from this study that the expression of the <jats:italic>Banana streak virus</jats:italic> (BSV) in planting material of this cultivar remains an unknown threat in yield decline of ‘FHIA-21’.</jats:p>

Yield and Fruit Quality Traits of Two Banana Cultivars Grown at Two Locations in Puerto Rico under Black Leaf Streak Disease Pressure

“…Cultivars exhibited drastic yield differences between the mother (year 1) and ratoon (years 2, 3) crops (Tables 3 and 5). Contrary to the rapid yield decline that occurs in commercial plantain production after harvest of the mother crop (Goenaga et al, 1993(Goenaga et al, , 2019, banana yields tend to increase in successive ratoon crops after harvest of the mother crop (Goenaga and Irizarry, 1995;Irizarry et al, 1989). In this study, the bunch yield obtained by the 'FHIA-17' second ratoon crop was 37% and 8% higher in Corozal and Isabela, respectively, than the mother crop.…”

Plantain hybrids for the humid forest agroecology of Central Africa – diseases and pests load, fruit yield and farmers perception

“…There were also pronounced differences in pseudostem girth among plantain hybrids and the local variety Ebang. Larger pseudostem girth can help in sustaining yields over several production cycles (Goenaga et al, 2019). In this study, there was a significant correlation (r = 0.44) between plant girth and bunch yield.…”

“…Plantains are starchy bananas that constitute over 80% of world banana (Musa spp.) production and are considered one of the major staple food and economic crop for about 70 million people in West and Central Africa (Goenaga et al, 2019). Worldwide, green or ripe fruits are consumed in several forms including fried, baked, roasted, pounded as fufu, porridge, and flour, and are eaten alone or together with other foods depending on local cuisines (Etebu & Young-Harry, 2011).…”

Effect of Crude Oil Polluted Soil on the Reproductive Growth of Plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.)

“…Plantain is susceptible to deficiencies in soil water, with expanding tissues such as emerging leaves and increase in fruit size are usually among the most likely to be affected [16]. The number of leaves present during floweringfruiting is a critical physiological feature for effective fruit-filling considering the fact that no new leaves are produced after this stage [46]. [22] reported that French plantain on polluted soil had broader leaves than plants on unpolluted soil.…”