Postharvest evaluation of the first three ratoons of some introduced banana clones (Musa AAA)‎

Abstract EN

This study was a continuation of a field experiment which was carried out at the research farm of the National Institute for the Promotion of Horticultural Exports, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan, during the period from January 2006 to April 2008.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the first three ratoons of six introduced banana clones grown at two spacings with respect to their green life and fruit quality under Gezira conditions.

The introduced clones were Williams hybrid clone 1 (WH1), Williams hybrid clone 2 (WH2), Grand Nain clone 1 (GN1), Grand Nain clone 2 (GN2), Zelig and Bio.

They were compared with the local clone Dwarf Cavendish (DC).

All clones were grown at 2x2 m and 3x3 m spacing.

These treatments were arranged in a split plot design with three replicates and four plants/plot.

The clones Bio, Zelig, GN1 and GN2 had the longest green life in the three ratoon crops.

The locally grown clone DC had the shortest green life of the three ratoons.

Banana clones grown at 3x3m had significantly longer green life than those grown at 2x2 m.

The clones Zelig and Bio had significantly higher TSS contents and the most acceptable taste than the other clones.

However, the clone DC resulted in the lowest TSS content and the least accepted taste as compared to the introduced clones.

The wider plant spacing (3x3 m) resulted in the production of fruits with significantly higher TSS content and better taste than the closer spacing (2x2 m).