Comparative morphology, phenology and production potential of banana cultivars ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ and ‘Williams’ in the Eastern Transvaal lowveld

Abstract

The morphology, phenology and production potential of banana cultivars ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ and ‘Williams’ were compared under similar conditions of climate, soil and management at Burgershall Research Station, Eastern Transvaal. Pseudostem height increased progressively for both cultivars over 3 crop cycles, with ‘Williams’ plants being 41% taller than ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ in the second ratoon. ‘Williams’ produced significantly larger leaves and a leaf area index 36% higher than ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ at 1666 plants ha −1, which caused increased shading and a longer ratoon cycle time in the former. Bunch mass was higher in ‘Williams’ than ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, the increase being 30% in the first ratoon. After 3 crop cycles, cumulative yield/ha/annum was 58.5 and 64.8 t for ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ and ‘Williams’, respectively. Pronounced seasonal differences were recorded in leaf emergence rates and flower emergence to harvest intervals, and these were similar for both cultivars. LER increased from less than 0.5 leaves/month in July to 4 leaves/month in February, these changes being related to mean monthly temperatures. E-H intervals varied from 108 days (December flowering) to 200 days (April/May flowering). A 2-month advancement in flowering from October to August induced a bunch mass increase of 47% in ‘Williams’, which was greater than that recorded between the two cultivars. A true cultivar comparison could not be made due to differential effects of season on bunch mass.