
%0 Journal Article
%A Johns, GG 
%T Field evaluation of five clones of tissue-cultured bananas in northern NSW
%J Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
%D 1994/07/01
%V 34
%N 4
%P 521-528
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9940521
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/EA9940521 
%X 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. 
