Introduction
Banana (2n=3x=33, AAB) is a perennial herbaceous monocot which belongs to Musa genus of the Musaceae family. Banana could be cultivated under sub-tropical conditions if the planting time is regulated in such a manner that bunches are initiated in summer, shot in autumn and mature in winter. It is believed to be one of the oldest fruits which have originated through a complex hybridization process from Malaysia. Cultivated banana is a triploid derived from two diploid species i.e. Musa acuminata (Malaysia) and Musa balbsiana (India). Banana represents the world’s second largest fruit crop and fourth most important global food crop with an annual production over 100 million metric tons. Banana plants are usually propagated by suckers which grow from lateral buds originating from corms, and suckers are used for production of individuals plants.
Bananas are vigorously growing monocotyledonous perineal herbaceous plants. The banana plant is a gigantic herb that springs from underground stem rhizome and attain up to 15 meters of height. The cultivars are differing from each other in terms of quality, greatly in plant and fruit size, plant morphology, fruit quality and disease and insect resistance. The trunk is composed of the basal portions of leaf sheaths and is crowned with a rosette of 10 to 20 oblong to elliptic leaves that sometimes attain a length of 3.0-3.5 meters and a breadth of 65 cm. A large giant flower spike, which carrying numerous yellowish flowers bud are protected by large purple-red bracts, emerges at the top of the pseudo-trunk and bends downward to become bunches of 60 to 160 individual fingers or fruits. The individual fruits, or bananas, are grouped in bunches, or hands of 10 to 22 in number. After a plant has produce mature fruited bunch, it is cut down to the ground, because each trunk produces only one bunch of fruit. The deceased trunk is succeed by others in the form of suckers, or shoots, which arise from the rhizome at roughly six-month intervals. The life-cycle of a single rhizome continues for several years, and the weaker suckers that it sends up through the soil are periodically removed after each harvesting, while the stronger ones are allowed to grow into fruit producing plants for next seasons.
Taxonomy of Banana
Banana belongs to the family Musaceae. Besides Musa, another genus is this family is Ensete. The family is characterized by leaves and bracts spirally arranged; male and female (hermaphrodite) flowers separated within one inflorescence; fruit is a many seeded berries. The old scientific names for most groups of cultivated bananas are Musa acuminata Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla for the ancestral species, and Musa paradisiaca L. for the hybrid M. acuminata vs M. balbisiana.
| Kingdom | Plantae-Plants |
| Sub-Kingdom | Tracheobionta – Vascular plants |
| Super Division | Spermatophyta- Seed plants |
| Division | Mangoliophyta- Flowering plant |
| Class | Liliopsida- Monocotyledons |
| Sub-Class | Zingiberidae /Liliidae |
| Order | Zingiberales |
| Family | Musaceae- Banana family |
| Genius | Musa |
| Spices | M. acuminata, M. balbisiana |
Taxonomic Scoring of Banana Cultivars
| Character | M. acuminate | M. balbisiana |
| Pseudo stem | More or less heavily marked with black or brown blotches | Blotches slight or absent |
| Petiolar canal | Margin erect or spreading with scarious wings below, not clasping pseudo stem | Margins not winged below, clasping pseudo stem |
| Peduncle | Usually down or hairy | Glabrous |
| Pedicles | Short | – |
| Ovules | Two regular rows in each locule | Four irregular rows in each locule |
| Bract shoulder | Usually high ratio (0.28) | Usually low ratio (0.30) |
| Bract curling | Bract roll | Bracts lift but don’t roll |
| Bract shape | Lanceolate or narrowly ovate tapering sharply from the shoulder | Broadly ovaue, not tapering sharply |
| Bract apex | Acute | Obtuse |
| Bract colours | Red dull purple or yellow inside pink, dull purple | Distinctive, brownish purple outside; bright crimson inside |
| Colours fading | Inside bract colours fades to yellow towards base | Inside bract colours continues to base |
| Bract scars | Prominent | Scarcely Prominent |
| Free tapal of male flower | Variably corrugated below tip | Rarely corrugated |
| Male flower colours | Creamy white | Variably flushed with pink |
| Stigma colours | Orange or rich yellow | Cream, pale yellow or pale pink |
The tender stem, which bears the inflorescence is extracted by removing the leaf sheath of the harvested pseudo stem and used as vegetable. Planting or cooking bananas are rich in starch and have a chemical composition similar to that of potato. Banana fibers is used to make item like bags, pots and wall hanger. Banana waste can also be utilized to produce rope and good quality paper. Banana leaves are also used as healthy and hygienic eating plates thus, eco-friendly in nature.
Plant Morphology
Banana plant could be found very easily in one’s back yard or kitchen gardens as they easily cultivable and its one of the largest herbaceous flowering plant. It can grow up to 6 to 6.7 meters (20 to 24.9 ft) tall its leaves can grow up to 2.7 meters (8.9ft) long and 60 cm (2 ft) wide. The banana plant is a wide perennial herb with leaf sheaths that give rise to trunk like pseudo stems. The plant has 8-12 leaves that are up to 9-10 ft long and 2-2.5 ft wide. Root development may be extensive in loose soil in some case up to 30 ft laterally. Other plant descriptions vary, its depend on variety. Flower development get initiated from the true stem underground (corm) 9-12 months after planting. The inflorescence grows through the center of pseudo stem. Flower develop in cluster and spiral around the main axis. In most cultivars, the female flowers are followed by a few “hands” of neuter flowers that have aborded ovaries and stamens. The neuter flowers are followed at terminal end by male flower enclosed in bracts. The male flowers have aborded ovaries but functional stamens. Fruits mature in about 60 to 90 days after flower first appear. Each bunch of fruit consist of variable number of “hands” along a central stem. Each “hand” consists of two transverse rows offinger (fruits). The fruit quality is determined by fruit size (finger length and thickness), evenness of ripening, freedom from blemishes and defects, and the arrangement of clusters. Quality standards may differ in various markets.
Area and Production
Banana is the second largest produced fruit while citrus ranked first, adding about 16% of the world’s total fruit production. India is the largest producer of banana, contributing to 27% of world’s banana production. By the way,banana production in India has surpassed mango production. In India, Tamil Nadu is the largest and leading producer of banana, followed by Maharashtra. After cereals, sugar, coffee and cocoa, Bananas are the fifth largest agricultural commodity in world trade. India, China, Brazil and Ecuador alone produce half of total bananas of the world. The availability round the year is themajor advantage of this fruit. Globally Banana is grown on 5.69 million hectares with the annual production of 106.83 million tons with an average yield of 18.78 tons/ha while the area and production of banana in India is 0.8 million hectare and 29.72 million tons with an average yield of 37.15 tons /ha. It is grown in large quantities in the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam. It is also an important foreign exchange gainer for India. India has become one of the largest exporters of banana worldwide. Indian banana now exported to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Nepal, Maldives and United states.
Nutrition
Banana is considered to be one of the most important sources of energy and starchy staple food for the people of tropical humid regions. Furthermore, bananas and plantains are rich in nutrients. Banana fruit contain water (70%) carbohydrate (27%), crude fiber (0.5%), protein (1.2%), fat (0.3%), ash (0.9%), calcium (80 ppm), phosphorus (290 ppm), iron (6 ppm), carotene (2.4 ppm), thiamine (0.5%), riboflavin (0.5 ppm), niacin (7 ppm) and ascorbic acid (120 ppm). Plantains are nutritionally low protein food material but relatively high in carbohydrates (70%), vitamins and minerals. Bananas are considered as a rich source of vitamin A, B complex, C, manganese, potassium and digestible food fibers are present in the fruits in sizeable levels.
Agro Climate & Soil
Bananas requires a warm sub-tropical climate, sufficient moisture and protection from wind. Most of the varieties of Bananas grow best with minimum 12 hours of bright light and high humidity of 60% or higher. The ideal temperature range is around 26-31°C (78-86F) with RH regime of 75-85%. Growth begins at 18ºC, reaches optimal growth at 27ºC -28ºC and stop entirely when temperature reaches around 38ºC. Although Bananas grow optimum in bright sunlight, high temperature will scorch fruit and leaves. For best appearance and increased photosynthetic rate, wind protection is always advisable. High velocity wind which exceeds75- 80km per hour damages the leaf. Bananas are also supposed to being blown over due to the weight of the stem of fruit. Thus, Propping must be done during the last 2-3 months of its life cycle before harvest.
Soil
Bananas requires rich, moisture and well-drained soil with 40% clay, 75% silt, 85% loam and higher in organic content. Bananas prefer a more acidic soil with pH between 6-7.5 over basic soil. Low pH soil prone to banana more susceptible to Panama disease. Avoid soil that is unproductive, unfertile, sandy, salty, nutritionally deficient and ill-drained soil. If soil is not in the most favorable condition, improve it with agronomical, cultural, physical measures such as Light sandy soil can be improved by placing mulch around the Banana plants. This will lead to improve water retention and also prevent nutrients from percolating rapidly into the soil. Nutritionally deficient soil can be overcome by incorporating organic matter- green manure crop, to the soil before you plant your Bananas and then mulch them thickly. This process should be repeated as often as you can do. Bananas do not tolerate abiotic stress such as waterlogging because its roots will rot. This however can be re by planting the Bananas in raised beds.
Varieties
Bananas comes in many varieties;therefore, selection of the species and varieties should be based on its market demand and yields. The most commonly cultivated Bananas in Malaysia are Berangan and Covendis and the remaining popular cultivars are Emas, Rastali, Raja Awak, Abu, Nangka and Tanduk.
Genomic constitution of different Banana cultivar
In India bananas are distributed in southern, eastern, central and north eastern parts within 800 and 300 N latitudes. Major genomic groups and cultivars are AA group:
AA-Anaikomban, Matti, Kadali, Tongat, pisanglilin.
AB- Ney poovan (Elakki bale), Kunnan, Nathu Poovan. Thaen kunnan, AdakkaKunnan.
AAB- Poovan, Rasthali, Pachanadan/Kaali/Galibale, Nendrapaditha, Rajapuri, Virupakshi/Sirumalai, Nendran/Rajeli, Chinali.
AAA- Dwarf Cavendish/Basrai, Giant Cavendish, Robusta, Gross michel, Grand naine, William, Nagabale, Chenkadali/Red banana, Chakkarakeli, Amrit sagar.
ABB- Nalla Bontha, Monthan/Kanchkela, Keribontha, Peyan, Karpuravalli, Sugandhi.
AAAA- Bodles Altafort, IC-2.
ABBB-KlueTaparod
AABB-Kalamagol
AAAB- Atan, Goldfinger (FHIA).
Characteristics of different varieties of banana-
Ney poovan/Elakkibale (AB):It is commercially cultivated in Kerala and Karnataka and minorly other south Indian state. The plants are medium stature, with slender, light yellowish pseudostem, having reddish petiole margin.Fruit is small flesh firm, sweet and highly fragrant.
Kunnans (AB):It is a back yard and kitchen garden cultivar of Kerala and Karnataka.The plants are medium stature and slender fruits with firm pulp with sweet taste.It is commonly used as infant food after conversion into banana flour.It is moderately tolerant to leaf spot and fusarium wilt.
AAA group: Cavendish sub-group
Dwarf Cavendish/Basrai (AAA)-It is the most important commercial cultivar of India and the plant of this group is dwarf, large fruit, curved, skin thick and greenish, flesh soft and sweet.
Even after ripening the fruit is slightly greenish in colour, while fruits ripening during winter season develop yellowish colour.The keeping quality is not so good; The average bunch weight is about 20-22 kg and suitable for high density planting, and susceptible to leaf spot disease.
Musa dwarf cavendish
Musa ‘Super Dwarf’ Cavendish
Gross Michel (AAA)
It is the main cultivar of this sub-group.Gross Michel was the leading cultivar in the world banana trade until the late 1950 and now this variety has lost its commercial status due to susceptibility to panama wilt.
Red Banana Sub-group
Red Banana (AAA)
This cultivar is grown throughout the globe.The colour of the pseudostem, petiole, midrib and fruit peel are purplish red is the main features of this group.The fruit is of good size and has a characteristic specific aroma.The average bunch weight is 20 kg.It lies well in humid tropics and at higher altitudes.It is moderately susceptible to fusarium wilt, bunchy top and nematode.
Red Banana
Silk Sub-Group
Rasthali (AAB)-It is one of the most popular commercial choicest table cultivars of West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar.The plant is tall and can be easily recognised by the yellowish green stem with brownishblotches.
Rasthali-
Reddish margins of the petiole and leaf sheath is the major characteristics features of that group.The average bunch weight is about 12 kg.Fruits are medium sized, skin-thin, yellowish in colour flesh firm, sweet with a nice aroma.It has the demerit of longer duration, severe susceptibility to fusarium wilt, easy dropping of fruits from bunch.Susceptible to sun injury and formulation of hard lumps in the pulp are also constrains.
Mysore Sub-group
Poovan/Champa (AAB)
The plant is hardy tall, and grows vigorously, one of the distinguishing features of the plant is the rose-pink colour on the outside of midrib, fruit is medium to small, yellowish skin firm flesh with sub-acidic nature in taste, keeping quality also good, the average bunch weight is about 16kg.It is highly resistant to panama wilt disease and slightly resistant to bunchy top but highly susceptible to banana bract mosaic and streak virus.
Planting/Planting Material
The best way is to start banana cultivation is with tissue culture plantlets. Tissue culture plantlets are recommended for planting because these are disease and pest free while, suckers, in general, are contaminated with few soil-borne pathogen and nematodes. Tissue culture plantlets are uniform, healthy, pest and disease free, and shorter harvesting period.These plants needs much care throughout the growth period compare to suckers plantains and yields about 10-20 per cent more than suckers.
In recent years the concept of HDP is being adopted and practiced, suckers are planted at closer spacing or planting two suckers per pit by accommodating a larger number of plants at specified spacing to get higher yield and minimize the cost of production.The cultivar Robusta and Dwarf Cavendish planted at 1.5 x 1.5m accommodates 4444 plants/ha is recommended by IIHR was recorded highest yield.
Planting Time
Tissue culture Bananas can be planted round the year.
Nutrients Required by Bananas
Bananas demand nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium with a balanced ratio of 3:1:6 and other micronutrients to ensure the plants grow vigorously.
Crop Geometry
The most economical and efficient spacing is about to 1.82m x 1.52m with 3,630 plants per hectare (a wide spacing of 1.82 m between rows). Although, the above spacing is only possible with fertigation. Bananas can also be planted with higher density at 1.5m x 1.5 m but yields are poor due to competition for sunlight and other growth factor. The recommended spacing is at 2.0m x 2.5m with 2,000 plants per hectare because that is the standard distance to minimize Sigatoka.
Planting Method
20% of perlite should be mixed with the soil for best growth. Depending on the soil quality, one must apply the appropriate method as well as the depth and spacing at which plants are needs to be planted.
Step 1:identify and mark the spots where the plants will be planted. Avoid marking and planting as you go because any oversight may lead to uneven spread of the Bananas. The best method to avoid this from happening is to use a long measuring scientific tape.
Step 2: Dig a hole with a Fawda in diameter and ten to twelve inches deep and place the plants in the hole while keeping the pseudo-stem 1 inch below the ground level.
Step 3: Toss a small amount of NPK into the hole to enhance the growth of the plant and fill the hole with enrich soil. Soil around the plant should be tramped down firmly to remove each air pockets
Maintenance
Fertilizing
A complete fertilizer with a ratio of 3:1:6 of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium is suggested and suitable for most Banana plantation. The first application of fertilizer at the rate of 100 grams per plant can be made as soon as the plant begins to grow or at the time of transplanting. Succeed application of fertilizer should be applied as frequent as possible i.e. once every 10-12 days if possible. The best aptitude is to apply small quantity of NPK, but more frequently. Organic fertilizers should apply for better taste and quality. fertigation isadvisable to water and fertilize at the same time to help Bananas grow. If there is uncertainty in water system (i.e. fertigation or pipes), the best time for application of fertilizer is after rain.
Important note:Fertilizer should be applied at one inch away from the leaf and not directly on the stem of the plant for better result. It is supposed to that Banana roots grow approximately an inch everyday (at an optimal growth). On sloping terrain, apply fertilizer only on the up-hill side.
Mulch
Mulch application is used to alter the effects of the local climate. A vast variety of synthetic and materials are used. The most easily available and cheaper material would be saw dust. For optimum result, it is best applied when the plants are still young to encourage faster growth. The benefit of using mulch is that it conserves soil moisture (blocking evaporation of water from the soil) help to keep weed free land and keeps soil cool as they block direct sunlight exposure. It alsoreduce the growth of weeds as it blocks the weeds from receiving sunlight thus minimizing intensive labor work.
The mulch should be kept at least 50-55 cm from the base of the plant as it generates heat when decomposing. This practice is known to minimize bacterial and fungal diseases while improving soil texture and adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Usually, mulch is only needing to be applied once as mature plantation is self- mulching i.e. dead Banana leaves and trunks are eliminated and left behind as naturally mulch.
Weeding
We should always try tokeep the plantation weed free. Banana plants grow notably slower with the availability of weeds because partial of the water and nutrients are absorbed by the weeds thus, hardening the cultural operation. Five or seven manual weeding should be sufficient after which the growth of weeds is rather impossible when Banana plants reached mature size. Alternatively, mulching is suggested to reduce the growth of weed.
Water Management
Water Management – Fertigation
Bananas require a great quantity of water to grow. conventionally, farmers provide nutrients to the plants by applying fertilizer in the form of pellets. While it is less expensive, it is labor intensive and ineffective because nutrients may evaporate or leach after application. The most effective manner in water management is drip irrigation with fertigation. Drip irrigation coupled with application of mulch has proven to increase water efficiency with saving of 60% of water and increase yield by 25 – 35%. However, distribution of nutrients is uniform under fertigation.
Generally, Bananas require a minimum of 1800 – 2500 mm annually or 25 mm per week. Deep watering is essential during draught to help leach the soil of salt. It is common that Banana plants do not bear fruit if proper water is not supplied. While Bananas needs large amount of water; do not over irrigate them. Excessive water will cause roots to rot – Banana roots are poor withdrawal of water.
Intercrop
Intercropping can be profitable if the crop is leguminous, short duration crops (45-60 days) can be planted between rows of plants. Moreover, intercropping is only possible during early stage of the plantation.
Growth and development of crop
During the life cycle, the plant produces 32-40 at 4 leaves per month depending on cultivar.The last leaf produced at shooting, small in size is called flag leaf.The first characteristics feature between vegetative and reproductive phase is the production of bract primordium.The basal (proximal) nodes of the inflorescence bearupper (distal) nodes contain male flowers and female flower. In between female and male buds, hermaphrodite flowers and have stunt ovaries and do not develop in to edible fruit.Banana fruit botanically known as berry.The edible bananas are vegetative parthenocarpy, the female sterility gene and lack of pollen due to triploidy causes seedless nature.While pollination is must for normal fruit development in the wild seeded bananas.
Use of plant growth regulators
The process of flowering induction regulated by Gibberellin like substances helps in development of plant, later on anthecin hormone inducing flowering of plant, both combining called as “Dual factors hypothesis”.Spraying of NAA at 100 ppm after 5 or 6, 7 months of planting markedly increases fruit quality, size and yield. Spraying of 2-4 D@ 20ppm also caused increased the quality of fruits.It is poured/applied in the growing apex, then bunch will have more offingers/female flowers.Application of GA3 at 50mg/L resulted in maximum yield and required a short for fruit maturity in Giant Governor Banana.
Special Operations
The following practices would directly affect the productivity and quality of the Banana plants.
i) Desuckering / Pruning- One mother plant and two followers should be kept. Keeping too many sucking plants will reduce quality and yields. It is suggested to eliminate all suckers once the desired followers have been selected. An age interval of 2-2.5 months between the mother plant and subsequently each of the followers is most desirable because these followers will become your main stem after the mother plant fruits. The most efficient method to permanently remove unwanted suckers is to cut the stem off the ground and then cut into the center of the plant. This should kill the sucker.
ii) Propagation– The alternative practice of pruning is propagation of bananas. Instead of destroying the suckers, suckers could be removed from the clump and replanting it in a newly cultivated land. Large suckers called the “sword sucker” are the most preferred planting material. When removing the undesirable suckers, it must be cut into the mother plant enough to unearth some roots. Leaves are often removed in the process for easy transportation, handling and re-planting. These suckers must be re-planted within a day or two and must not be exposed to the sun. Otherwise, the roots may dry up.
iii) Deflowering– Removal of the “Bell” (the purple flower petals at the end of the bunch – also known as “banana blossom” or “banana heart “). This is usually practiced because this way, Banana plant will conserve its energy into growing bigger bunch and no longer stalk.
iv) Pruning of leaves-old leaves and infected leaves should be pruned out regularly. This will reduce the likelihood of various leaf diseases and keeps the plantation tidy and healthy. Furthermore, it provides natural mulch to the Banana plants.
v) Earthing up– Soil level should be raised after 2.5- 3 months of planting to keep soil loose. This will also help prevent Banana plants from falling due to severe wind.
vi) Mattocking- It is the practice of cutting the pseudostem after harvesting of bunches.
After harvesting, the pseudostem must be cut leaving a stump of about 0.6m hight, the left-over stump with its stored food material continues to nourish the daughter sucker (follower) till it withers and dries up.
vi) Removal of female hands– Remove the last one to two hands of the bunch. Banana producer often remove the bottom female hands so that the remaining hands grow bigger as it enhances and fruit development and increases bunch weight.
vii) Bunch Covering-Bunch covering boost the weight and enhances quality of fruit. Conventionally, Banana growers protect the bunch from sunburn by placing dry leaves on the top hand of the bunch but this is not practicable during rainy season and also time consuming. Commercial growers however, use blue plastic sleeves. This practice is to protect Bananas fromsunburn diseases, insects, , spray residue, dust and birds. Covering the Banana bunch also increases the temperature within which helps in early maturity.
viii) Propping Support Banana plants with bamboos– Banana plants often go off balance due to the heavy weight of the bunch at the time of nearly maturity. Therefore, two bamboos should be propped by placing one against the top of the bunch and the other against the stem on the leaning side to prevent the plants to fallen off. Propping using only one bamboo is not suggested as the Banana plant may plunge to the other direction during strong wind.
Pest and Disease Management
Pest and disease management Bananas are prompt to viral diseases, fungal diseases and pest thereby reduces production, quality and yield.
Pests
Pseudostem borer-most of the commercial cultivars are heavily affected by the borer.Exudation of plant sap is the initial symptom and blackened mass comes out from the holes bored by the larvae.
Rhizome weevil-Nendran is highly susceptible, damaged corms show feeding tunnels filled with mass of rotten tissues.
Banana aphid-vector of the virus disease bunchy top
Fruit and leaf scarring beetle-The beetle feeds on young leaves and skin of young fruits, occurrence is maximum in rainy season and less in winter.
Diseases
Panama wilt – Fusarium oxysporiumF.spcubens, It is the most severe, harmful and important disease of banana. Rasthali is highly susceptible cultivar. It is serious in poorly drained soil. Resistant varieties are Dwarf Cavendish and Robusta.
Leaf spot/Sigatoka – It is a fungal caused disease, initially,presence of light yellowish spots on the leaves under moderately condition formation of brown spots and later dies, turning light grey surrounded by a brown ring. The Cavendish and Gros Michel group are all highly susceptible to sigatoka. While, all ABB clones are resistant.
Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV):-Transmitted by aphid vector, Pentalonianigronervosa. The dwarf banana cultivars are Susceptible. The leaves are bunched together like a rosette at the top, the margins are wavy androlled upward. Dark green streaks of the lamina or midrib. The plants are stunted and do not produce bunch of market value. Some of the other diseases are Pseudostem heart rot, Diamond spot, Anthracnose, Cigar end tip rot, Crown rot, Bacterial soft rot, Bacterial wilt or moko disease, banana streak virus, banana bract mosaic virus etc., causing damage to banana plants.
Fruit maturity and harvest
Harvest, when fingers are fairly evenly rounded. General practiceto harvest when fingers of second hand are ¾ rounded. Alternative, for tree-ripened fruit, cut only those hands that are ripen and leave the remaining for other day. These Bananas taste the best
It is suggested to place harvested bunch in well-padded basket before transporting to the collection site because Bananas are easily bruised and this will inevitably reduce the quality of the fruit. Once harvested, the bunch should be kept out of light, in cool and shady place. The process of ripening can be done by covering the bunch with plastic sleeve together with a ripe fruit as it releases small amount of heat and ethylene which helps initiate and stimulate ripening. Depending on the demand of the market, hands are often cut into units of 6 – 15 fingers or left on stalks and sold to retailers.
Under favourable conditions, banana starts flowering in 9-12 months and fruits matures in about 4-5 months depending upon varieties, climate etc. Banana are harvested at 3/4th maturity stage for distant markets or for chips making purpose while, for local markets are harvested at full maturity.
The following are the indications of maturity of banana.
- Drying of top leaves.
- Changing of fruit colour from green to light green.
- The floral ends of fruits are shed with slight hand touch at apices.
- Fruit become plumpy and angles are filled & disappear.
- One or two fruits ripe at the basal end (yellow colour).
- Starch content of the fruit (22-25%).
The bunches are to be harvested by leaving 2 ft of peduncle on the bunch.
Yield
Yield of banana varies with variety, depend on production practices.Tall cultivars usually yield 15-20 tones/ha.Cavendish group varieties yield about 40t/ha, whereas the hill banana/cooking varieties yield about 11-15 tones/ha.
Storage
Keep Bananas refrigerated and ripening process can be delayed if you refrigerate it. The skin of the fruit will turn dark but the flesh remains firm. Conversely, do not store Bananas below 13°C because it will stop its ripening process (at that temperature Bananas do not emit heat or ethylene).
Banana can be stored at about 13C with the Relative Humidity of 85-95 per cent for approximately 20 days and is ripened in a week at 16.5-21.0C.The ripened fruits should not be stored / shifted under refrigerated condition.The shelf-life can be increased by keeping the fruits in high concentration of carbon dioxide and low concentration of oxygen.
Also storing in sealed polythene bags containing ethylene absorbent like potassium permanganate.Shrink film wrapping or Waxol (12 per cent) treatment can extend shelf life up to 3 weeks.Mostly bananas are not allowed to ripen on the tree; Smoking done with straw, leaves & cow dung in a closed chamber for 18-24 hours in summer and 48 hours in winter and later shifted to ventilated room for uniform ripening.The exogenous application of 100 ppm ethylene gas in an enclosed chamber for 24 hrs for will produce ripening anduniform colour.
Post-Harvest Handling
Post-harvest handling for export market, Bananas bunch are generally dehanded and soaked in dilute sodium hypochlorite solution to remove the latex and then treated with thiobendasole. Both sodium hypochlorite and thiobendasole are synthetic chemical compound or commonly known as bleach.
Note: Banana Planters has a strict policy of not using harmful chemical in the production or post-harvest process. Whilst the Banana skin may look grimy, it’s safer to consume.
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