Yield and fruit quality traits of two plantain cultivars grown at two locations in Puerto Rico under black leaf streak disease pressure

Authors: Goenaga, Ricardo; Irish, Brian; Marrero Soto, Angel

Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/11/2019
Publication Date: 12/1/2019
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6811087
Citation: Goenaga, R.J., Irish, B.M., Marrero Soto, A.R. 2019. Yield and fruit quality traits of two plantain cultivars grown at two locations in Puerto Rico under black leaf streak disease pressure. HortTechnology. 29(6):958-966. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04425-19.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04425-19

Interpretive Summary: Plantains are tropical rhizomatous perennial plants in the Musa spp. genus closely related to bananas. It is an important cash crop and a staple for inhabitants in many parts of the world. Black leaf streak disease (BLSD) or black Sigatoka, caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora fijiensis, is responsible for significant losses to this crop due to the high susceptibility of the most economically important cultivars. BLSD does not immediately kill plantain plants but, causes severe leaf necrosis which results in reduced photosynthetic area and hence, impacts bunch weight and fruit production. Without cultural and chemical control, yields can be reduced by 20 to 80%, depending on severity. Several promising hybrids such as FHIA-21 have been developed and possess BLSD resistance. Their evaluation in multi-site trials is important before commercial adoption by growers. This study evaluated ‘FHIA-21’, a BLSD-resistant cultivar, against ‘Maricongo’, a standard commercial cultivar with no BLSD tolerance, at two locations in Puerto Rico on an Ultisol (Corozal site) and Oxisol (Isabela site) soils. This study showed that ‘FHIA-21’ has good resistance against BLSD Sigatoka, produce good yield, and is a viable alternative to current disease susceptible cultivars. However, the threat of ‘FHIA-21’ being affected by banana streak virus, particularly in periods of stress should not be discounted and efforts should be made to provide optimum agronomic management to prevent potential stressors.

Technical Abstract: Plantains are tropical rhizomatous perennial plants in the Musa spp. genus closely related to bananas (Musa acuminata AAA). It is an important cash crop and a staple for inhabitants in many parts of the world, including various ethnic groups in the US. Black leaf streak disease (BLSD) or black Sigatoka, caused by Pseudocercospora fijiensis, formerly Mycosphaerella fijiensis, is responsible for significant losses to this crop due to the high susceptibility of the most economically important cultivars. BLSD does not immediately kill plantain plants but, causes severe leaf necrosis which results in reduced photosynthetic area and hence, impacts bunch weight and fruit production. Without cultural and chemical control, yields can be reduced by 20 to 80%, depending on severity. This study evaluated ‘FHIA-21’, a BLSD-resistant cultivar, against ‘Maricongo’, a standard commercial cultivar with no BLSD tolerance, at two locations in Puerto Rico on an Ultisol (Corozal site) and Oxisol (Isabela site) soils. Total number of fruit and bunch yield were significantly higher at Isabela with BLSD severity being significantly lower at this location. Average fruit production for ‘FHIA-21’ was significantly higher than ‘Maricongo’ at both locations with fruit yield of 122,522 and 99,948 fruit/ha at Isabela and Corozal, respectively. Overall, fruit in ‘FHIA-21’ were significantly longer and of greater diameter than those of ‘Maricongo’. At Isabela, bunch mean fruit weight was significantly higher in ‘FHIA-21’ but both cultivars exceeded the local marketable fruit weight criterion of 270 g. At both locations the number of functional leaves present at flowering and at harvest was significantly higher in ‘FHIA-21’ than in ‘Maricongo’, indicating more availability of photosynthetic area in ‘FHIA-21’ during the fruit-filling period. There were no significant differences between cultivars in the concentration of starch and soluble sugars for green fruit. In ripe fruit, ‘FHIA-21’ had significantly higher concentration of soluble sugars and less starch. In this study, ‘FHIA-21’ showed to have good resistance against BLSD and, if accepted by consumers, is a viable alternative to current commercial cultivars. We also conclude from this study that the expression of the banana streak virus in planting material of this cultivar remains an unknown threat.