Screening banana (Musa sp.) varieties for leaf production

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Date
2004
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Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
The present investigations on 'Screening banana (Musa sp.) varieties for leaf production' was carried out at the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2002-2003 to evaluate the changes in leaf production pattern of banana varieties due to leaf pruning and to select banana varieties for commercial leaf production. Molecular characterization (RAPD analysis) of banana varieties was also carried out to obtain preliminary information on the genetic makeup of the varieties evaluated. Studies revealed that the plant height and girth were affected by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. Elavazhai, Palayankodan and Karpooravalli were less adversely affected when alternate leaves were pruned seven days after unfurling. Plant height and girth were higher with less severe pruning treatments. The leaf emission rate was affected by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and varieties. Elavazhai, Palayankodan, Njalipoovan and Vayalvazhai had higher leaf emission rate when all the leaves were pruned seven days after unfurling. In general, pruning all the leaves resulted in higher leaf emission rate. The total leaf production, number of harvested leaves, and the number of marketable leaves were affected by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. Leaf pruning in general increased the total leaf production, number of harvested leaves and number of marketable leaves. Elavazhai, Palyankodan and Njalipoovan attained higher leaf production, number of harvested leaves and marketable leaves when all leaves were pruned seven days after unfurling. The leaf length was not affected by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. Karpooravalli, Elavazhai, Monthan, Njalipoovan and Palayankodan had produced the lengthiest leaves. The leaf breadth and leaf thickness were not affected by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. Elavazhai, Vayalvazhai, Monthan and Karpooravalli had the highest leaf breadth while Elavazhai, Vayalvazhai, Monthan and Karpooravalli had more leaf thickness. The leaf area index was affected by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. Elavazhai, and Karpooravalli had the highest leaf area index. The duration of leaf harvest was affected by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. In general, pruning of leaves resulted in higher duration. Karpooravalli, Palayankodan and Njalipoovan, had the higher duration while Vayalvazhai and Monthan had the lowest duration. The occurrence of bunchy top disease was not influenced with the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. Njalipoovan and Palayankodan were affected by the disease. The occurrence of leaf spot disease was not influenced by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. The occurrence of rhizome weevil was not affected by the interaction effect of leaf pruning and the varieties. However, Njalipoovan was affected by rhizome weevil while other varieties were not affected. The interaction effect of' varieties and leaf pruning indicated that, pruning all the leaves seven days after unfurling was most profitable when income from both leaf and bunch were considered. The studies indicated that banana varieties Elavazhai, Palayankodan and Njalipoovan were suitable for leaf production in commercial varieties. The practice of pruning all the leaves seven days after unfurling was economically viable under Kerala conditions. DNA isolated from six varieties were subjected to RAPD analysis. Out of the 40 decamer primers screened for RAPD analysis, 32 could produce amplification. Totally 118 bands (average of 2.95 bands per primer) by thirty-two primers, of which 97.46 per cent (115 bands) were poly morphic. Three bands (2.54%) were monomorphic. Eight primers showed high level of polymorphism viz. OPA-03, OPA-Il, OPA-20, OPB-06, OPB-07, OPB-IO, OPB-II and OPB-I5 were used for RAPD analysis of six Musa sp. varieties. These primers yielded 89 scorable bands with an average of 11.13 bands per primer. A genetic dissimilarity matrix was constructed using the Jaccard' s coefficient method and the values ranged from 0.226 to 0.486. The genetic distance between the varieties ranged from 0.226 to 0.338. Dendrogram expressed three major clusters. Monthan, Vayalvazhai and Karpooravalli together formed the largest cluster. Within this cluster, Vayalvazhai and Karpooravalli were more close to each other. Palayankodan and Njalipoovan formed another cluster. Elavazhai formed a separate cluster, which was generally distinct from all other clones.
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172343
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