Table of Contents
1 Distribution and Importance 1
Origins and Early Distribution 1
Present Distribution of Banana and Plantain 3
Main Banana-producing Countries 7
Main Banana Markets 13
Factors Influencing World Trade 17
2 Taxonomic Classification, Cultivars and Breeding 21
Basis of Modern Classification 21
Major Genomic Groups and Cultivars in World Use 26
Breeding and Selection 37
Handling and Identification of Banana Germplasm 46
3 Morphological Characteristics and Plant Development 51
Root System 51
Rhizome and Suckers 53
Leaves and Pseudostem 57
Inflorescence and Bunch 59
Development of the Fruit 63
4 Climatic Requirements and Problems 67
General Climatic Requirements 67
Temperature Comparison Between Four Banana-growing Areas 69
Implications of Rainfall 73
Specific Problems due to Climate 75
5 Phenological and Physiological Responses 89
Phases of Plant Development 89
Phenological Responses 90
Physiological Responses 102
6 Site Selection, Soil Requirements and Soil Preparation 115
Site Selection 115
Tropical Soil Classification 116
Soil Physical Requirements 117
Soil Chemical Requirements 120
Soil Biological Limitations 121
Soil Preparation 122
7 Establishing a Plantation 125
Types of Planting Material 125
Multiplication and Preparation of Planting Material 130
Methods of Planting 134
Time of Planting 136
Planting Densities and Spatial Arrangements 138
8 Systems of Cultivating Bananas and Product Certifications 149
Systems of Cultivation 149
Product Certification Schemes 156
9 Nutritional Requirements 161
Nutrient Elements - their Functions and Deficiency Symptoms 162
Nutrient Cycling 167
Plant Analysis 170
Fertilization 173
Soil Degradation and the Rise of Organic Nutrition 176
10 Water Requirements and Irrigation 179
General Water Requirements Worldwide 179
Irrigation Systems 180
Irrigation Scheduling 185
Irrigation of Plantains 190
11 Horticultural Management 193
Weed Control 193
Sucker Management 194
Plantation Soil Covers 203
Canopy Management 205
Windbreaks 207
Bunch Management 207
Ratooning and Plantation Life 213
12 Diseases 217
Fungal Diseases 218
Bacterial Diseases 226
Viral Diseases 228
Role of Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes in Controlling Banana Diseases 231
13 Pests 233
Rhizome and Root Pests 233
Bunch Pests 239
Leaf Pests 241
Role of Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes in Controlling Banana Pests and Diseases 242
14 Harvesting and Fruit Handling 245
Harvesting 245
Transport from Field to Packshed 248
Cooling of Fruit from the Field 252
Packshed Operations 252
Transport to Market 256
15 Ripening, Biochemistry and Uses 259
The Pre-climacteric 259
The Climacteric 261
Ripening 262
Biochemical Characteristics 263
Nutritional Value and Uses 266
Processing 270
References 273
Index 299
