Evaluation of parental banana varieties and new hybrids regarding potential yield and resistance to Sigatoka and nematode in India

Abstract

Introduction . Banana and plantains rank fourth among the most important food crops of the world, and India holds the position of the largest producer. A study was undertaken to evaluate the potential yield of new synthetic banana hybrids based on bunch weight and fruit quality. It also assessed the nematode damage, Sigatoka leaf spot disease and parthenocarpy stability. Materials and methods . Thirteen new hybrids and eleven parental bananas of dessert type were used and evaluated in the first vegetative generation. Plant growth parameters, viz., pseudostem height and girth, number of leaves, and suckers per plant were measured at the flowering stage and the damage of roots by nematode and intensity of the Sigatoka leaf spot disease were assessed at the harvest stage. The content of total soluble solids, and reducing, non-reducing and total sugars in the fruit was estimated. Results . All the hybrids exhibited parthenocarpy and there was no reversion from parthenocarpy to non-parthenocarpy. The plant height and girth and the leaf number varied among the hybrids significantly. The maximum bunch weight was recorded for H-212 (ABB) which showed a regular suckering habit, very high content of total soluble solids and reducing sugars, and more leaves without leaf spot infection than the other hybrids; moreover, H-212 is a female sterile dessert-type banana and it is tolerant to nematode and resistant to Sigatoka. The reproduction factor of Radopholus similis on H-211 (AA), H-213 (ABB) and H-02-01 (AA) was significantly lower than on H-203 (AA), H-209 (ABB) and H-205 (AA). Conclusions . Our studies distinguished one triploid ABB hybrid H-212 with high yield and fruit quality, and no sanitary problems; it can be released for commercial cultivation to banana growers.