Vol. 70 No: 4

Title:
Physiological Responses of Banana (Musa AAA; Cavendish Sub-Group) in the Subtropics. IV. Comparison Between Tissue Culture and Conventional Planting Material During the First Months of Development

Authors:
K. ECKSTEIN and J.C. ROBINSON

pp: 549-560

Abstract:
Uniform tissue culture (TC) and conventional sucker (CON) planting material of cv. Williams were planted in adjacent rows on a late (28 January 1991) and an early (28 October 1991) planting date (PD) and managed similarly. Measurements of photosynthesis rate (A) between TC and CON plants were taken with portable photosynthesis measuring equipment on a total of five plants per month for each planting material type and repeated twice per month over the first six months after planting. The respective plants on which A was measured were analyzed for dry-mass production and carbohydrate status of all plant parts at the end of each month. TC plants produced a 77% larger root system than CON after five months of development, following October PD. During the same time TC plants had developed a 99% greater mean functional leaf area. A further advantage of TC plants was the earlier attainment of increased assimilation potential, having an average of higher A than CON during the first three months of development. These combined advantages of TC plants led to a doubling of plant dry-mass production compared with CON after the first five months of development. Additionally, TC plants had earlier sucker production and a higher sucker count, which led to an increase in sucker dry matter of 63%, five months after planting. Due to planting material morphology, the growth potential of TC plants is dependent on, and responds better to, more intensive management from the day of planting, while CON plants in their early development are more dependent on the initial mass of the planting material and reserves in the rhizome.

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