Abstract
Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and the production of banana plants with resistance to black leaf streak disease (BLSD), in comparison with the performance of traditional cultivars susceptible to the disease. Twenty cultivars were planted at the Jaguaribe-Apodi plateau, in Northeastern Brazil: 15 with resistance to BLSD, namely Pacovan Ken, PV42-68, BRS Vitória, BRS Japira, BRS Preciosa, BRS Garantida, Thap Maeo, BRS Tropical, BRS Platina, BRS Maravilha, FHIA 02, FHIA 18, Galil 18, Caipira, and Buccaneer; and five susceptible to the disease, namely Williams, Grande Naine, Pacovan, Prata Anã, and Maçã. Banana growth and production of bunches was evaluated during three successive cycles. 'BRS Tropical' and 'Caipira' can replace 'Maçã', which is very susceptible to Fusarium wilt. The BRS Maravilha, BRS Platina, FHIA 02, FHIA 18, and Galil 18 cultivars show adequate height and high yield potential, being alternatives to the traditional Prata subgroup. The Buccaneer cultivar is an alternative to the susceptible cultivars of the Cavendish subgroup and can be explored in an irrigated agrosystem.
Highlights
Banana (Musa spp.) plants are widely cultivated in tropical regions, and developing countries account for over a third of global banana production (FAO, 2016), generating opportunities and income for producers and other agents in the fresh fruit value chain
The exception was 'Maçã', for which only a few small bunches were obtained due to the incidence of Fusarium wilt caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc)
The BRS Platina, BRS Tropical, BRS Garantida, and Grande Naine cultivars were planted in neighbor plots to Maçã, no symptoms of the disease were detected, confirming the resistance of those plants to Foc, possibly race one
Summary
Banana (Musa spp.) plants are widely cultivated in tropical regions, and developing countries account for over a third of global banana production (FAO, 2016), generating opportunities and income for producers and other agents in the fresh fruit value chain. In Brazil, the banana crop is spread throughout all regions, with an annual harvest of 7 million tons. Despite the high production levels in this particular region, fruit yield is still low (
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