Greenhouse cultivation of banana: very favorable crop in Turkey

Abstract

The present study evaluated plant morphological traits and fruit quality parameters of banana 'Dwarf Cavendish' cultivar and local type 'Azman' grown in subtropical conditions, under unheated plastic greenhouse. The study was conducted between 2014 and 2015 in Alanya, the province of Antalya. The planting density was 1850/ha and drip irrigation system was used. Plant morphological features (plant height, stem circumference and height, leaves retention at flowering and bunch stalk circumference), yield components (number of hands, number of fingers, finger circumference and length, and bunch weight) and fruit quality attributes (peel thickness, the peel and pulp ratio, soluble solid content) after ripening were determined. The plant height, stem height, number of hand, bunch weight and finger features were the most variable traits. 'Dwarf Cavendish' produced shorter plants and pseudostem height. Bunch weight and finger features in 'Azman' were found to be superior to 'Dwarf Cavendish'. As 'Azman' type produced higher yield (69.3 t/ha/year) than 'Dwarf Cavendish' cultivar (52 t/ha/year), this local type is recommended for cultivation under unheated greenhouse.