AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF BANANA PLANTS IN THREE PRODUCTION CYCLES IN SOUTHWESTERN STATE OF BAHIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT This assay was conducted in the experimental area of the Federal Institute of Bahia, Campus Guanambi, BA, and aimed to evaluate agronomic traits of Prata, Cavendish, Gros Michel and Maçã banana cultivars three production cycles. The 72 treatments, 24 cultivars and three production cycles were arranged in a split plot scheme in time, in a completely randomized design with five replications and four plants per plot. Plots were arranged in 24 cultivars, Prata-Anã, Maravilha, FHIA-18, FHIA-18 BRS, BRS Platina, JV42-135, Pacovan, Japira, PV79-34, Pacovan-Ken, Preciosa, Guarantida, Maçã, Caipira, BRS Tropical, BRS Princesa, YB42-03, YB42-07, YB42-47, Grande-Naine, Calypso, Buccaneiro, FHIA-23 and FHIA-17; and subplots consisted of three production cycles. Data obtained were submitted to analysis of variance. The average of the cultivars were grouped by Scott-Knott criterion (p<0.05) and production cycles compared by Tukey test (p<0.05). ‘JV42-235’, ‘Japira’ and ‘Pacovan-Ken’ cultivars had larger size and ‘Grande Naine’ had smaller size. ‘Prata-Anã’ cultivar had higher number of leaves at harvest, with leaf area index similar to the others. ‘BRS Platina’ cultivar is earlier at flowering and harvest. ‘Maravilha’, ‘BRS Platina’, ‘FHIA-23’, ‘BRS Tropical and BRS Princesa’ cultivars presented greater potential for use by farmers.