Yield and fruit quality traits of two banana 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: 8/5/2021
Publication Date: 12/1/2021
Citation: Goenaga, R.J., Irish, B.M., Marrero Soto, A.R. 2021. Yield and fruit quality traits of two banana cultivars grown at two locations in Puerto Rico under black leaf streak disease pressure. HortTechnology. 31(6):838-845. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04914-21.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04914-21

Interpretive Summary: Banana (Musa acuminata AAA) is a tropical rhizomatous perennial plant whose center of origin lies in the humid tropical belt that extends from India to the Solomon Islands. Banana is the most exported fruit worldwide and represents a major source of revenue for Central and South American countries as well as the Caribbean region, among others. 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 banana plants but, it causes severe leaf necrosis which results in reduced photosynthetic area, thereby adversely impacting 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-17 have been developed and possess BLSD resistance. Their evaluation in multi-site trials is important before commercial adoption by growers. This long-term study evaluated ‘FHIA-17’, a BLSD-resistant cultivar, against ‘Grand Nain’, a standard commercial cultivar worldwide with no BLSD tolerance, at two locations in Puerto Rico on an Ultisol (Corozal site) and Oxisol (Isabela site) soils where BLSD was not managed. This study showed that ‘FHIA-17’ has good resistance against BLSD, produce good yield, and is a viable alternative to current disease susceptible cultivars. However, it’s relative advantage of reduced production costs by not needing fungicide applications should be weighed against its longer harvest cycles.

Technical Abstract: Banana (Musa acuminata AAA) is a tropical rhizomatous perennial plant whose center of origin lies in the humid tropical belt that extends from India to the Solomon Islands. Banana is the most exported fruit worldwide and represents a major source of revenue for Central and South America countries as well as the Caribbean region, among others. 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 banana plants but, it causes severe leaf necrosis which results in reduced photosynthetic area, thereby adversely impacting 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-17’, a BLSD-resistant synthetic hybrid (AAAA), against ‘Grand Nain’, a standard commercial cultivar with no BLSD tolerance, at two locations in Puerto Rico on an Ultisol (Corozal site) and Oxisol (Isabela site) soils where BLSD was not managed. Significantly lower bunch yield (45,990 kg/ha) and significantly less fruit (220,671 fruit/ha) were obtained at Corozal than at Isabela (53,755 kg/ha, 380,241 fruit/ha). Lower production at Corozal was the result of higher severity of BLSD at this location than at Isabela and to soil factors interfering with optimum nutrient uptake. Average fruit production of ‘FHIA-17’ was significantly higher than that of ‘Grand Nain’ at both locations, with bunch yields of 68,105 and 72, 634 kg/ha at Corozal and Isabela, respectively. Fruit of the third-upper hand was significantly longer for ‘FHIA-17’ at Corozal but not different at Isabela, however, ‘FHIA-17’ fruit in this hand were of significantly greater diameter. Fruit in the last hand of ‘FHIA-17’ were significantly longer than in ‘Grand Nain’ at Isabela only, but of significant greater diameter at both locations. Average mean fruit weight was significantly higher at Corozal than at Isabela. At both locations, the mean fruit weight was significantly higher in ‘FHIA-17’ than in ‘Grand Nain’. The number of functional leaves present at flowering and at harvest was significantly higher in ‘FHIA-17’ than in ‘Grand Nain’ at both locations, indicating more availability of photosynthetic area in ‘FHIA-17’ during the fruit-filling period. No significant differences were found for starch and soluble sugars in green unripe or fully mature fruit among cultivars. The harvest cycle of ‘FHIA-17’ was significantly longer than for ‘Grand Nain’. In this long-term study, ‘FHIA-17’ showed to have good production and resistance against BLSD and is a viable alternative to current commercial cultivars. It’s relative advantage of reduced production costs by not needing fungicide applications should be weighed against its longer harvest cycles.