(Musa sp.) cultivars in the subtropics of coastal Alabama by Ed

174 Pages·2016·4.61 MB·English

by  Jennifer Lovelace

Assessment of commercial fruit crop potential of selected banana (Musa sp.)
cultivars in the subtropics of coastal Alabama
by
Edgar Louis Vinson, III

A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of
Auburn University
In partial fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

Auburn, Alabama
May 8, 2016

Keywords: Banana, subtropical, phenology, Musa, non-Cavendish

Copyright 2016 by Edgar Louis Vinson, III

Approved by

Elina D. Coneva, Chair, Professor of Horticulture
Joseph M. Kemble, Co-chair, Professor of Horticulture
Esendugue G. Fonsah, Professor Agricultural Economics, University of Georgia
Penelope M. Perkins-Veazie, Professor of Horticulture, N.C. State University
Jeff L. Sibley, Professor of Horticulture
Floyd M. Woods, Associate Professor of Horticulture
Abstract
Global demand and increased adaptability of banana cultures has led to the
development of a potential niche market for non-Cavendish bananas. This present work
was conducted to determine the feasibility of producing banana fruit in the coastal region
of Alabama, USA. In the seasons leading to fruit production, several banana cultivars
demonstrated suitability for production due to vigor that was similar to banana cultivars
produced in other subtropical regions. In the first season cultivars ‘Veinte Cohol’ and
‘Ice Cream’ produced significantly more leaves (39 and 38 leaves-1 plant respectively)
than all other medium height banana cultivars. Overall ‘Cardaba’ and ‘Ice Cream’ had
the highest number of leaves present (NLP) and produced the highest total number of
leaves (TLN). Several cultivars produced mature bunches by the end of the 2015 season:
‘Cardaba’, ‘Gold Finger’, ‘Double’, ‘Grand Nain’, and ‘Sweetheart’. Preliminary
findings in cover crops studies have found no increase in soil carbon or organic matter
supplied by Hairy Vetch or Crimson Clover and had no significant effect on growth of
‘Mysore’ banana plants compared to the bare ground treatment. Reflective mulch
treatments resulted in yields that were consistently, numerically higher than the control
treatment but these differences were not significant. Several cultivars have exhibited
adaptability to the gulf coast region of Alabama and hence hold promise as being part and
parcel of a banana niche market. More research must be conducted such as extended
phenological studies and a precise determination of responses to critically low
temperatures to assess banana cultivar’s ability to produce mature bunches before the first
ii
frost in coastal Alabama, and the effect of innovative cultural practices to reduce inputs
and increase sustainability.

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Acknowledgments
The author thanks his Sovereign God for the people who have helped along this
journey. The author thanks his graduate committee: Dr. Elina Coneva, Dr. Joe Kemble,
Dr. Floyd Woods, Dr. Jeff Sibley, Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie and Dr. Chief Esendugue
G. Fonsah for their wisdom, guidance, encouragement, giving of their precious time and
sharing their wonderful gifts. The author greatly appreciates the help of fellow graduate
students, Andrej Svyantek and Roy Langlois for their help with labor, suggestions and
support. It is appreciated by the author more than they will probably ever know. The
work here would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of the
staff of the Gulf Coast Research and Extension Center, Fairhope, AL.: Mr. Malcomb
Pegues, Director, Mr. Jarrod Jones, Assistant Director, Mr. Bryan Wilkins, Horticultural
specialist, and all of the crew members that helped make the work lighter. The author is
also indebted to the entire Department of Horticulture for their support, well wishes, and
positive, kind words. Lastly the author thanks his wonderful wife and children, Joyce
Thomas-Vinson, Jared and Adriel for their loving support and constant reminders that we
‘can do all things through Christ which strengthens’ us.

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Table of Contents
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………....……ii

Acknowledgments………………………………………………………………………..iv

List of Tables………………………………………………………………...………….viii

List of Figures………………...……………………………………………………........xiii

Chapter I: Introduction and Literature Review…………………..…………………….....1

Introduction……………………….………………………………………….……1

Phenological and Morphological Factors…………………………………………7

LER………………………………………………………………….…….7

LAI………………………………………………………………….……..8

Number of Standing Leaves…………………………………………..…...9

Planting to harvest duration (PTH)………………………………….…….9

Pseudostem height……………………………………………………….10

Other Influences of Banana Plant Vigor and Flower Emergence………………..13

Water requirements and irrigation……………………………………….13

Planting Density………………………………………………………….15

Diseases and Nematodes…………………………………………………17

Research and Concepts of Reduced Inputs and Plant Cycle Duration
Reduction...…………………………………………………………………..19

Cover Crop Usage Promote Sustainable Production of Banana and
Plantains…………………………………………………………........19

Improve light penetration in lower canopy leaves……………………….23

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Determination of pseudostem survival of low temperatures…………….24

Conclusions………………………………………………………………………30

Literature Cited…………………………………………………………………..32

Chapter II: Exploring the use of Cold-Tolerant Short-Cycle Banana
Cultivars for Fruit Production in Coastal Alabama……..…………..….……….…..42

Introduction……………………………………………………………………..43

Production of Banana Fruit in Alabama………………………………….45

Health Benefits of Banana Fruit………………………………………….47

Materials and Methods…………………………………………………………..49

Statistics………………………………………………………………….51

Results and Discussion………………………………………………………….52

Floral initiation, yield, and bunch characteristics of the R crop…………57
3

Survivability……………………………………………………………...59

Conclusions……………………………………………………………………..60

Literature Cited………………………………………………………………….63

Chapter III: Concepts to Improve Sustainability of non-Cavendish bananas cultivated in
the subtropics of Coastal Alabama...……………...……….………………….……118

Introduction……………………………………………………………………..121

Innovation one: Reflective Mulch……………………………………...123

Innovation two: Cover Crop Usage…………………………………….124

Materials and Methods………………………………………………………………….126

Reflective Mulch………………………………………………………………..126

Cover Crop…………………………………………………………………...…128

Statistics………………………………………………………………………...130

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Results and Discussion…………………………………………………………………130

Reflective Mulch………………………………………………………………..130

Discussion……………………………………………………………......…………132

Cover Crop Experiment………………………………………………………...133

Clover Treatments………………………………………………………………134

Discussion………………………………………………………………………………135

Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………..137

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List of Tables
Chapter II:
Table 2. 1. P-values of interaction terms of dwarf, medium, and tall banana
Cultivars…..……………………………………………… ………………..……67

Table 2. 2. Pseudostem length (cm) of dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish subgroup))
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast Rec, Fairhope, AL – parent crop
2013………………....…...………………………..………….………..…………68

Table 2. 3. Pseudostem circumference (cm) of dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish
subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – parent crop 2013..…………………………………………….…69

Table 2. 4. Height: circumference ratio of dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish subgroup))
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop
2013.……………………………………...……………………………...…….…70

Table 2. 5. Pseudostem circumference (cm) of dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish
subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – parent crop 2013.........……….……………………………….…71

Table 2. 6. Length and width (cm) of the third-position lamina of dwarf
(Musa AAA (Cavendish subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – parent crop 2013.. …………....………......….……………….…72

Table 2. 7. Leaf area index (LAI) of dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish subgroup))
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop
2013…..............................................................................................................…73

Table 2. 8. Leaf emergence rate (LER) of dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish subgroup))
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – Parent Crop
2013………………………………………………………………………..……..74

Table 2. 9. Cumulative leaf number (CLN) of dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish
subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop
2013……..……...…………....………......…………………………………….…75

Table 2. 10. Pseudostem length and circumference at each sampling period of
dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast
REC, Fairhope, AL, R crop, 2014……….......….………………………….…76
1
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Table 2. 11. Mean height:circumference at each sampling period of dwarf (Musa
AAA(Cavendish subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope,
AL R crop 2014......……......……………………………………………...….…77
1

Table 2. 12. Mean number of standing leaves (NSL) of dwarf (Musa AAA
(Cavendish subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014………………………………………………….…78
1

Table 2. 13. Mean laminal length and width at each sampling of dwarf (Musa AAA
(Cavendish Subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014……….…....………................................…………79
1

Table 2. 14. Leaf area index (LAI) and LER each sampling of dwarf (Musa AAA
(Cavendish subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014.................................................................…………80
1

Table 2. 15. Cumulative leaf number (CLN) of dwarf (Musa AAA (Cavendish
subgroup)) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014……………..……….……………....…………..…81
1

Table 2. 16. Pseudostem length (cm) and circumference (cm) of medium height
non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014…..…......………................................……..…...…82
1

Table 2. 17. Height:circumference ratio of medium height non-Cavendish (Musa sp.)
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014……………….………………………..….…….…83
1

Table 2. 18. Number of standing leaves of medium height non-Cavendish (Musa sp.)
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014.…………………………...……………..……...…84
1

Table 2. 19. Laminal length of medium height non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R1 crop 2014……………....85

Table 2. 20. Laminal width of medium height non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014….…………….86
1

Table 2. 21. Leaf area index (LAI) of medium height non-Cavendish (Musa sp.)
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R crop 2014 ……..…...87
1

Table 2. 22. Leaf Emergence Rate (LER) of Medium Height non-Cavendish (Musa
sp.) Bananas Cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R Crop 2014……………………………………………...….....88
1

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Table 2.23 Cumulative leaf number (CLN) of medium height non-Cavendish (Musa
sp.) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R1 crop
2014..…………………………………………………………………………..…89

Table 2. 24. Pseudostem length and circumference of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.)
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope,
AL – parent crop 2013…………………………...………………..…….……….90

Table 2. 25. Height: circumference ratio of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop 2013……..……..91

Table 2. 26. Number of leaves present of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop 2013………..…..92

Table 2. 27. Laminal length (cm) and width (cm) of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.)
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop
2013……………………………………………………………………....…..…..93

Table 2. 28. Leaf area index (LAI) of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.)bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop 2013.. . . . . ….…94

Table 2. 29. Leaf emergence rate (LER) of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop 2013 ....………...95

Table 2. 30. Cumulative leaf number (CLN) of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.)
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – parent crop 2013………96

Table 2. 31. Pseudostem length (cm) and circumference (cm) of tall non-Cavendish
(Musa sp.) bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC,
Fairhope, AL – R1 crop 2014………………………………………………..…..97

Table 2. 32. Height: circumference ratio of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R1 crop 2014……….... ……98

Table 2. 33. Number of standing leaves (NSL) of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.)
bananas cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R1 crop
2014……………………………………………………………………………....99

Table 2. 34. Laminal Length (cm) of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R1 crop 2014……………...100

Table 2. 35. Laminal width (cm) of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) Bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R1 crop 2014…...…...….…101

Table 2. 36. Leaf area index (LAI) of tall non-Cavendish (Musa sp.) bananas
cultivated at the Gulf Coast REC, Fairhope, AL – R1 crop 2014…………...…102
x