Field evaluation of five clones of tissue-cultured bananas in northern NSW

Abstract

The use of tissue culture (TC) could facilitate clonal changes and reduce pest and disease problems in the New South Wales banana industry. The performance of 5 clones of TC banana plants (Chinese Cavendish, 2 Mons Mari clones, and 2 Williams clones) and 1 clone propagated as suckers (Williams) was monitored in the field over 3 crop cycles. TC offtypes became evident during the first year. Overall 11% of field-planted TC plants were dwarf offtypes, and 8% were mosaic offtypes. Total offtypes in the field ranged from 1 to 63% for different clones. Dwarf offtypes produced 6% fewer (P<0.001) bunches than normal plants. Many mosaic offtypes died during the trial, and overall they produced 34% fewer (P<0.001) bunches than normal plants. Dwarf offtypes produced 41% of the marketable fruit of normal plants during the trial, while mosaic offtypes produced only 7% (P<0.001). TC plants produced their first crop 60 days earlier than plants from suckers; thereafter bunch to bunch intervals were similar. TC plants also produced 40% more (P<0.001) suckers during the first 18 months in the field. Within the Williams clone, normal TC plants (offtypes excluded) produced 15% more fingers per bunch in the plant crop than plants propagated as suckers (P<0.001). As TC plant crop fingers were 8% smaller (P<0.01), total fruit weight per bunch was 6% greater (P<0.05). Yield parameters were not significantly different during the first ratoon, but in the second ratoon TC plants had 5% more (P<0.05) fingers and 9% greater (P<0.01) total fruit weight. In the clonal comparison Chinese Cavendish was the shortest plant, had below-average finger size, and its production of marketable fruit was below average. Mons Mari-WR was the tallest clone with the longest fruit, and the highest production of marketable fruit. Other clones were intermediate in height and production.