RTB Annual Review and Planning Meeting 2014

29th Sept to 3rd Oct, Entebbe, Uganda

Banana cultivar response to light levels: implications for a cropping system

intensification toolbox

Bananas mixed with trees

backyardperennial

crops

mixed food/fallow

Bananas in coffee with trees in Mesoamerica

Bananas in coffee fields (has)

Mexico 75000

Guatemala 43000

El Salvador 30000

Honduras 84000

Nicaragua 35000

Costa Rica 7000

TOTAL 255,000

Other countries LAC: Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Republica Dominicana, Haiti, Peru,

Other countries Africa: Cameroon, Tanzania, Guinea Conakry, Ghana, Uganda

Research questions

What is the effect of light level (or shade) on banana growth?

Is there a difference among cultivar groups?

Do any cultivars show suitability to more shaded growing conditions

Open sun

25%

50%

75%

100%Radiacion

50% Radiacion

25% Radiacion

75%Radiacion

Cultivars tested:

Pisang mas AA # &Gros Michel AAA # % &Cavendish Williams AAA # % &Robuta Red AAA # %

Dwarf plantain AAB # %False horn AAB # %&Silk AAB # &

Bluggoe ABB # &Pelipita ABB # %

5 plants10 plants

Agronomic management

All cultivars planted as microcorms in nursery bags

Renovation pruning of coffee just prior to banana transplant

Shade pruned every 4 months – differences maintained, although not exact %

Average daily temperatureby treatment

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

Semanas despues del trasplante

21.9

23.2

24.5

25.8

27.1

Te

mp

era

tura

(g

rad

o C

)

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

Semanas después del trasplante

Difference Max Temp – Min Tempby treatment

% Relative Humidityby treatment

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22

Semanas despues del trasplante

9.0

31.8

54.5

77.3

100.0

Hu

me

da

d R

ela

tiva

(%

)

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

Semanas después del trasplante

Hum

edad

rel

ativ

a (%

)

Number of leaves emitted

08 % 25 % 50 %

75 %

5 9 13 18 22

semanas despues del trasplante

1.6

6.7

11.9

17.0

22.1

Nu

me

ro d

e h

oja

s e

mitid

as

08 % 25 % 50 %

75 %

Núm

ero

de h

ojas

em

itida

s

Leaf area/plant

08 % 25 % 50 %

75 %

5 9 13 18 22

Semanas despues del trasplante

0.00

1.84

3.68

5.52

7.36

Áre

a F

olia

r (m

2)

08 % 25 % 50 %

75 %

Number of leaves x cultivar group

AAA AAB

ABB ModHMAAA

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

Parcelas

12.0

14.5

17.0

19.5

22.0

Nu

me

ro d

e h

oja

s e

mitid

as

a

AAA AAB

ABB ModHMAAA

Stem girth x cultivar group

AAA AAB

ABB ModcbgpoAAA

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

Parcelas

0.20

0.36

0.52

0.67

0.83

Circ

unsf

eren

cia

basa

l (m

)

a

AAA AAB

ABB ModcbgpoAAA

Parcelas

Circ

unfe

renc

ia b

asal

(m

)

AAA cultivar differences:leaf number

baby Gros Mich

ModHEbbw il ModHEGM

ModHEmor morado

Williams

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

Parcelas

12.0

14.5

17.0

19.5

22.0

Nu

me

ro d

e h

oja

s e

mitid

as

b

baby Gros Mich

ModHEbbw il ModHEGM

ModHEmor morado

Williams

Baby Gros M

ModAFGM Morado

Modmxbbmor Williams

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

Parcelas

0.50

2.88

5.25

7.63

10.00

Are

a F

olia

r (m

2) b

Baby Gros M

ModAFGM Morado

Modmxbbmor Williams

Parcelas

Áre

a fo

liar

(m2 )

AAA cultivar differences:leaf area

Baby Gros M

ModcbGM Modcbmxbbw il

morado Williams

08 % 25 % 50 % 75 %

Parcelas

0.20

0.36

0.51

0.67

0.83

Circ

unsfe

renc

ia b

asal

(m)

b

Baby Gros M

ModcbGM Modcbmxbbw il

morado Williams

Parcelas

C

ircun

fere

ncia

bas

al (

m)

AAA cultivar differences:stem girth

Pes

o de

l rac

imo

(Kg)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Gros MichelWilliamsDatil

Minima 25% 50% 75%

AAA cultivar differences:bunch size

Conclusions:

Shade reduced productivity of all cultivars

Not linear responseup to 25-35% shade with minimal effects

Gros Michel continues to produce even in heavy shade

Are there other cultivars with exceptional traits?

Fusarium wilt

Tool box for mixed cropping systems

Light response:

Relative water uptake:Stomata close/soil waterBanana -0.10 to -0.20MPacoffee -0.50 to -1.0MPa

Relative nutrient absorption

Root density

Soil microbial communities

RTB species/cultivarsFunctional characteristics:

Tool box for mixed cropping systems

Light response:

Relative water uptake:Stomata close/soil waterBanana -0.10 to -0.20MPacoffee -0.50 to -1.0MPa

Relative nutrient absorption

Root density

Soil microbial communities

RTB species/cultivarsFunctional characteristics:

Associated treesPerennial cropsGreen manure cropsAnnual grainsRTB

Thank you, Gracias, Merci beaucoup