Vol. 83 No: 1

Title:
Removal of bunch, leaves, or pseudostem alone, or in combination, influences growth and bunch weight of ratoon crops in two banana cultivars

Authors:
K.R. DENS, R.A. ROMERO, R. SWENNEN and D.W. TURNER

pp: 113-119

Abstract:
We manipulated the source (leaf system) and sink (bunch) in banana cultivars 'Williams' and 'Grand Nain' to determine the effect on two subsequent ratoon cycles. Ratoon growth and bunch characteristics were measured on plants, in a plantation, that were treated in two seasons: one warm and sunny season, and the other cool and cloudy. Removing bunches or leaves affected growth of the ratoon in the first 3 months after treatment, and this effect differed between seasons. Defoliating bunched plants in the warm and sunny season caused the first ratoon crop to bunch 5.1 weeks earlier than those on intact plants. Defoliation in both seasons reduced the height and bunch size of ratoon plants, especially in 'William'. Bunch removal in the cool and cloudy season reduced the cycle time by 2.5 weeks. The bunch is a higher priority C-sink than the ratoon, and there is an indication that floral induction in banana plants is influenced by environmental conditions independently of internal plant effects.

Full text: JHSB Subscribers     ISHS members & other users
(PDF 3346640 bytes)

Go back to previous page