Agronomic performance and resistance level of banana cultivars to Mycosphaerella sp. under subtropical conditions

Abstract

Agronomic performance of banana cultivars varies according to each ecological zone. Sigatoka disease complex causes severe economic losses to banana growers. Climate conditions associated to genotypes of banana plants influence several agronomic traits related to this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of banana cultivars naturally infected with Mycosphaerella sp. under subtropical conditions. Severity of Sigatoka disease complex and agronomic performance of nine cultivars were evaluated during three successive productive cycles. Tetraploid hybrids showed lower cycle from seedling to harvest, disease severity and higher number of leaves at harvest. Pomme and Cavendish subgroups were more susceptible to Sigatoka disease complex and had lower numbers of leaves at the harvest. ‘BRS SCS Belluna’ showed moderate susceptibility to Sigatoka disease complex. ‘FHIA 1’ and ‘Nanicão’ produced the heaviest bunch. Path analysis showed that Sigatoka disease complex can negatively affect bunch weight for two consecutive cropping cycles.