Experiments on Banana Fruit Development

Abstract

A number of synthetic auxins and auxin-antagonists were applied in lanolin emulsions to young banana fruits and their effects on fruit development and seed fertility estimated. Auxins stimulated the formation of edible pulp in both seedy and parthenocarpic bananas and induced varying degrees of seed sterility. Of the auxin antagonists tried, coumarin (contrary to a mistaken earlier report) stimulated parthenocarpy and induced seed sterility, three others were not or but slightly active, and thiourea markedly inhibited parthenocarpy. Study of the relation between size of mature fruit and seed content indicates that developing seeds stimulate the growth of pulp and that the amount of stimulation is roughly proportional to the level of parthenocarpy. Fruit development in the banana seems to fit in with Luckwill's general scheme of dual hormonal stimulus.