Seed set patterns in East African cooking bananas (Musa spp.) are dependent on weather before, during and after pollination

Seed set in banana is influenced by weather but the most critical weather attribute(s) and the critical period are unknown. We therefore investigated influence of weather during floral development for a better perspective seed set increase. Three East African Highland Cooking bananas (EAHBs) were pollinated with wild banana ‘Calcutta 4’. At full maturity, bunches were harvested, ripened, and seeds extracted from fruit pulp. Seed set per 100 fruits per bunch was then correlated with weather before, during, and after pollination. Seed set was positively correlated with high temperature (r=0.172 – 0.488), and negatively correlated relative humidity (RH) (r=-0.158 – -0.438) between 75 days before pollination (DBP) and the time of pollination. After pollination, high average temperature was negatively correlated with seed set in ‘Mshale’ and ‘Nshonowa’ 45 DAP to time of harvest (r=-0.208 – -0.344). Correlation coefficients were highest 15 DBP for ‘Mshale’ and ‘Nshonowa’ whereas for ‘Enzirabahima’, the highest were at the time of pollination. Maximum temperature as revealed by principle component analysis at pollination time should be the main focus for seed set increase especially 15 DBP.

Publication year:2021

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Authors:International

Authors from:Higher Education

Accessibility:Open