Abstract
The abundance of banana flower thrips (Thrips hawaiiensis Morgan) in a banana (Musa acuminata Colla “Williams” cultivar) plantation was investigated using yellow sticky traps (29.70 cm × 21.00 cm) in 2015. Banana flower thrips occurred throughout the year with monthly variation, and the maximum occurrence was observed in October and November during the bud burst (73.80 ± 6.32 adults/trap) and young fruit (70.06 ± 5.69 adults/trap) periods. The damage rates were as follows: interior flowers >3rd-layer flowers > 2nd-layer flowers > 1st-layer flowers > young fruits. This result indicates that thrips migrated to lower bracts, young fruits, and other flower buds as bracts gradually opened. Results also showed that the reducing sugar, vitamin C, protein and ash contents in thrips-damaged flowers were all significantly lower than those in undamaged flowers, while there was no significant difference between damaged and undamaged young banana fruit. Our results indicated that the abundances of banana flower thrips were closely associated with the growing stage of banana. Thrips mainly infested flower buds and caused a reduction in nutrients for the host plant, especially the reducing sugar and vitamin C contents, which reduced the nutritional quality of banana fruits and the quality of flower bud by-products of banana.
Highlights
Banana (Musa acuminata) is the world’s most important fruit crop and one of the top 10 crops by production [1]
Banana produces a large number of flower buds, which have been developed for edible and pharmaceutical functions due to their abundance of nutrients and medicinal contents [3, 4]
The abundance rapidly increased to 73.80 adults/trap in October-November and was significantly higher than in any other month (F2,5 = 18.52, P = 0.012)
Summary
Banana (Musa acuminata) is the world’s most important fruit crop and one of the top 10 crops by production [1]. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics, where it acts as an important dietary component, both raw (as a dessert fruit) and cooked (often as the major source of carbohydrates) [2]. Banana produces a large number of flower buds, which have been developed for edible and pharmaceutical functions due to their abundance of nutrients and medicinal contents [3, 4]. Banana flower thrips (Thrips hawaiiensis Morgan) that damage flower buds have become major pests of banana crops [4,5,6].
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