Banana farming is a vital agricultural activity in tropical and subtropical regions, providing a staple food source and a significant income for millions of farmers worldwide. Known for their nutritional value and versatility, bananas thrive in warm, humid climates with well-drained soil and consistent rainfall. Banana farming involves planting suckers or tissue-cultured plants, managing pests and diseases, and ensuring proper irrigation and fertilization. The crop plays a critical role in global trade, ranking among the top fruits exported internationally. Sustainable banana farming practices are increasingly adopted to improve yield, protect biodiversity, and ensure long-term profitability for farmers.
Classification
Kingdom : Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom : Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Superdivision : Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
Division : Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class : Liliopsida (Monocotyledons)
Subclass : Zingiberidae
Order : Zingiberales
Family : Musaceae
Genus : Musa
Species : paradisiaca
Banana and Plantains
Bananas and plantains are essential tropical fruits widely cultivated in the humid tropical lowlands, where the climate provides optimal conditions for their growth. They also thrive in some subtropical areas, extending their geographical range and significance. These fruits play a crucial role in food security and economic development, serving as a staple food for millions and contributing significantly to agricultural trade.
Two groups
Banana
Bananas are among the most important fruits globally, commonly served as a dessert due to their sweet flavor and versatility. They are the most significant type within their genus, accounting for the majority of international trade in this category. Their widespread popularity and economic value make them a staple in both local markets and global commerce.
Edible bananas belong to the genus Musa (2n=22), which includes over 50 species, some of which have numerous subspecies. In addition to Musa, there are other wild relatives such as Callimusa (2n=20) and Ingentimusa (2n=28), highlighting the genetic diversity within the banana family.
Plantain
Plantains are a vital staple food in many countries across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Unlike bananas, they are typically cooked before consumption and serve as a primary component of the local diet. Their nutritional value and versatility make them an essential food source for millions of people in these regions.
Cultivated bananas and plantains are developed from two wild species
I. Musa acuminata (Syn. M. cavendishii, M. chinensis, M. nana, M. zebrina)
Musa acuminata (synonyms: M. cavendishii, M. chinensis, M. nana, M. zebrina) is a wild edible banana species. It occurs as either seedless diploids (2n=22) or seedless triploids (3n=33) and serves as the primary source for most bananas.
II. Musa balbisiana
This species produces seedy, unpalatable fruit but is valued for its resistance to various diseases, drought tolerance, and overall hardiness. It is commonly used as a parent in the development of several cultivars. Its fruit shows a slower conversion of starch into sugars at maturity, and many plantain cultivars have some genetic contribution from this species.
III. Musa x paradisiaca L.
The Musa x paradisiaca L. refers to hybrids of Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, with the majority being triploid. These hybrids are categorized using a two- to four-letter designation based on their genetic composition. For example, AA represents diploids derived entirely from M. acuminata, while AAB denotes triploids with two-thirds M. acuminata and one-third M. balbisiana. The most common banana cultivars belong to the AAA group, showcasing the genetic diversity within this important genus.
Origin
The primary center of origin for bananas is believed to be Melanesia, encompassing regions such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Borneo, and Papua New Guinea. Today, India stands as the leading producer of bananas globally, reflecting the fruit’s widespread cultivation and importance in agriculture.
Soil Requirements for Banana Farming
Bananas require soil with a pH ranging from 4.5 to 7.5, with an optimal range of 5.8 to 6.5 for best growth and productivity. They can also tolerate some salinity, up to 300–350 mg/L.
Bananas can grow in a wide range of soil textures, from sands to heavy clays, provided the soil depth is around 1.0 to 1.2 meters to support healthy root development.
Bananas farming will be best in soil without superficial water tables or impermeable layers, with highly fertile alluvial loams being ideal for cultivation. Plantains, particularly those with an AAB genome, also perform best in such soils and are more adaptable to lower-quality soils compared to AAA dessert bananas. This adaptability is attributed to the ‘B’ component in their genome.
Climatic Requirements for Banana Farming
Rainfall
Banana farming require a consistent water supply and well-distributed rainfall, as the bananas are highly susceptible to water stress. Prolonged flooding, even for a week, can kill most banana plants. However, the plantain group is comparatively less vulnerable to water stress.
Temperature
Bananas grow within a temperature range of 15–38°C, with an optimum of around 27°C. For dry matter accumulation and ripening, the ideal temperature is 20°C, while 30°C is optimal for plant growth. Growth ceases at 10°C, with severe damage occurring below 6°C and irreversible damage below 4°C. Frost causes rapid plant death. Temperatures above 38°C halt growth and can result in leaf burning.
Wind
Bananas are highly susceptible to wind damage. Moderate to severe tearing of leaves occurs at wind speeds of 20 to 50 km/h, while speeds above 50 km/h can cause significant damage, including loss of leaf sections, breaking of the pseudo-stem, or uprooting of plants. High-velocity winds can unexpectedly strike and break all tall pseudo-stems, leading to severe losses.
Solar radiation
Bananas require high levels of solar radiation for optimal growth and yield. However, insufficient water supply can lead to fruit sunburn under intense sunlight. In shaded or low-radiation conditions, the growth cycle can extend by up to three months, and plants tend to grow taller. These conditions also reduce bunch size and sucker production, particularly in high-density planting, where low radiation at ground level further limits growth.
Photoperiod
No evidence exists that photoperiod influences flowering.
Botany
Plant
Banana plants are perennial herbs classified as monoecious monocots, growing to heights of 2 to 9 meters. Their true stem is an underground, compressed structure called a corm. Aboveground, what appears to be a stem is actually a pseudostem, formed by tightly overlapping leaf sheaths. The apical bud of the corm is responsible for producing both the leaves and the inflorescences of the plant.
Adventitious roots
Adventitious roots in banana plants originate from the corm, forming a dense mat that spreads extensively, reaching up to 4–5 meters horizontally from the parent plant and penetrating to depths of 75 cm or more. However, plantains with the AAB genome tend to have a comparatively shallower root system.
Suckers
Lateral shoots, also known as suckers, emerge from the corm near the parent plant. These suckers grow over time and, once they mature, produce flowers and bear fruit.
Types of Suckers
Sword sucker
- Has very narrow leaves when young
- Pseudostem has a conic shape/form
Water sucker
- It has wide, almost rounded leaves.
- Pseudostem has a cylindrical shape.
- Water suckers are eliminated in the plantation.
- Sword’ suckers are selected for the ratoon crop and preferred as propagation material.
Leaves
Banana leaves are large, with laminas measuring 1.5–4 meters in length and 0.7–1 meter in width. They feature prominent midribs and parallel veins. Stomata are present on both surfaces of the leaves, with the adaxial (upper) surface containing three times more stomata than the abaxial (lower) surface.
Leaf Development
- The leaf takes 6 to 8 days to fully unroll.
- 25 to 50 leaves emerge.
- 10 to 15 functional leaves present (total area 25 m2) at inflorescence emergence.
- The number of leaves at flowering is positively correlated with bunch weight.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence of the banana plant is a spike originating from the rhizome. It comprises groups of flowers arranged in two rows at each node, enclosed within reddish bracts referred to as a “hand.” These bracts eventually reflex and are shed as the flowers develop.
3 types of flowers (male, female, and hermaphrodite)
- The female flowers emerge first
- Males at the distal end
- Sometimes hermaphrodite flowers develop in the middle of the bunch
A banana inflorescence typically consists of 5–15 hands, each bearing female flowers. Each hand contains 12–20 flowers, and the bracts covering them open sequentially, approximately one per day. The peduncle elongates to about 1.5 meters in length and terminates with male flowers enclosed within a bract.
Flower
White in color
Female flower
The female flower of the banana plant measures about 10 cm in length. It features three united carpels, a three-lobed stigma, and an inferior trilocular ovary. The perianth or petal is short, consisting of five fused segments and one free segment that together forms a tube surrounding the style. Additionally, the flower contains non-functional staminodes.
Male flower
The male flower of the banana plant is approximately 6 cm long, featuring a small ovary and a slender style. It has five stamens with long anthers that rarely produce fertile pollen. These flowers are typically shed soon after opening. However, in varieties like the Dwarf Cavendish banana and French plantain, the male flowers are persistent.
Pollination and fruit set
Many commercial banana varieties are male sterile, while those in the Cavendish subgroup are also female sterile. Their fruit develops parthenocarpically, without the need for fertilization.
Fruit
- Berry
- Develops from inferior ovary
Propagation
Corm/rhizome
Propagation is carried out using corms or rhizomes. Sword suckers that are a few months old but have not yet started flowering are typically selected for this purpose. These suckers should have a pseudostem diameter of 15–20 cm, measured 20 cm above the ground. The suckers are carefully dug out, and the pseudostem is trimmed, retaining a length of 15–20 cm. Each trimmed sucker weighs approximately 2.5 to 5 kg and is commonly referred to as “bits.”
Pieces of rhizomes
Rhizomes from old, flowered plants can also be used for propagation in banana farming. These rhizomes are dug out, thoroughly cleaned, and the roots are removed. They are then cut into smaller pieces, ensuring each piece has at least one viable eye. Before planting, disinfestation is essential for both types of planting material. This can be achieved through a hot water dip at 56–58°C for 15–20 minutes or by immersing the rhizomes in a solution containing nematicide, fungicide, and insecticide for 5–20 minutes.
Tissue Culture
Tissue culture is an advanced propagation technique that facilitates rapid multiplication of plants while ensuring they are disease-free. It offers a high field establishment rate, promotes uniformity in harvesting times, and results in significantly higher production during the first crop cycle.
Ratoon Crop
A ratoon crop refers to the second or subsequent production obtained from the same planting. In this method, sword suckers are allowed to grow and develop into successive crops after the initial harvest.
Fertilizers Management in Banana Farming
Follow the given link: The 7 Best Banana Fertilizers.
Special cultural practices
Pruning
Pruning involves the strategic removal of certain parts of the plant to enhance fruit quality and yield. This includes the early removal of one or more hands from the distal end of the bunch, which helps increase the size of the remaining fruits. Additionally, the rachis below the last marketable hand of fruit, along with the male flower, is removed to facilitate faster and more complete fruit filling. In some cases, withered styles and perianths persisting at the ends of the fruits are also removed to minimize fruit scarring and reduce the risk of certain diseases.
Bunch propping
Bunch propping is a practice used to prevent bunches from falling off the plant and to stabilize the plant itself, reducing the risk of the entire plant toppling over.
Bunch cover
Bunch cover in banana farming involves the use of polyethylene covers, typically 30 to 40μm thick, which are widely employed in fruit cultivation. These covers create a warmer microclimate around the bunch, promoting faster fruit development. Some covers are impregnated with pesticides to minimize damage from thrips and mites. Additionally, they help prevent fruit scarring caused by dead leaves, protect the fruit from dust and pesticides, and deter certain insects from accessing the bunches.
Sucker management
De-suckering in banana farming is an essential operation that involves the removal of unwanted suckers while selecting suitable ones for ratoon crops. This practice minimizes competition with the mother plant, thereby enhancing overall yield.
Leaf Removal
Leaf removal in banana farming involves eliminating dead leaves to reduce the spread of diseases, prevent fruit scarring caused by hanging dead leaves, and promote better growth of suckers.
Fruit maturity
Banana fruit is typically harvested at 75% maturity or when it reaches its potential maximum size. Key maturity indicators include the reduced prominence of fruit angles, a light green color, and the ease with which the delicate styles at the fruit tips can be rubbed off. In tropical regions, bananas take about 110 days after flowering to reach this stage, while plantains mature in approximately 85 days.
Harvesting
Cutting entire bunches from pseudostems by hand.
Storage
Bananas can be stored for 2 to 4 weeks at a temperature of 12–14°C; however, the fruit is susceptible to chilling injuries if exposed to lower temperatures.
Disease of Banana
Moko disease
- Moko disease of banana, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (Race 2), is a serious bacterial wilt affecting banana and plantain crops.
- It spreads through contaminated soil, water, tools, and insect vectors.
Symptoms
- Symptoms appear as yellowing, wilting, internal vascular discoloration, and rotting of the fruit.
- The disease can quickly devastate plantations, leading to significant yield losses.
Management
- Management involves using disease-free planting material, proper sanitation practices, crop rotation, and removing infected plants to limit the spread of the pathogen.
Panama disease of banana
- Panama disease of banana, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum sp. cubense (Foc), is a destructive wilt disease.
- It infects through the roots.
- The disease persists in soil for decades, making eradication difficult.
- Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is particularly devastating, affecting many cultivars, including Cavendish. This race can survive upt0 30 years in the soil and can cause 100% loss.
Symptoms
- Symptoms appear as leaf yellowing, wilting, vascular discoloration, and plant death.
- The disease persists in soil for decades, making eradication difficult. Tropical Race 4 (TR4) is particularly devastating, affecting many cultivars, including Cavendish.
Management
- Use resistant varieties, strict quarantine, and crop rotation, as chemical control is ineffective against this pathogen.
Banana bunchy top virus
- Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is a significant viral disease of bananas, transmitted by the banana aphid (Pentalonia nigronervosa).
- The virus spreads through infected planting materials and aphids.
Symptoms
- It causes stunted growth, bunched leaf appearance, and dark green streaks on leaves and petioles, severely reducing yield. Infected plants fail to produce fruit.
Management
- Management involves using virus-free planting material, controlling aphid populations, removing infected plants, and implementing strict quarantine measures to prevent its spread.
Sigatoka leaf spot disease
- Sigatoka leaf spot disease, caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Black Sigatoka) and Mycosphaerella musicola (Yellow Sigatoka), is a major fungal disease affecting banana leaves.
- The disease spreads through windborne spores and thrives in warm, humid conditions.
Symptoms
- It reduces photosynthesis by causing leaf lesions, leading to premature leaf death, poor fruit development, and significant yield losses.
Management
- Apply fungicide regularly.
- Grow resistant cultivars.
- Proper plant spacing for air circulation.
- Removing infected leaves to reduce spore load.
