Evaluation of some Musa accessions in field collection at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to characterize and evaluate the agronomic potentials of eight Musa accessions in Ebonyi State University Musa field genebank. Qualitative descriptors were used to characterize the genotypes, while eight growth and yield traits were evaluated. Results indicated that the accessions were similar in thirteen characteristics, but differed in nine traits including pseudostem/foliage pigmentation, pseudostem/foliage waxiness, pseudostem blotching, petiole margin clasping, peduncle hairiness, persistence of neutral flowers, persistence of male bract, pulp colour of unripe fruit, and pulp colour of ripe fruit. Analysis of variance results indicated significant differences among the accessions for all the agronomic traits except fruit circumference. In terms of bunch weight, SH 3436 yielded the heaviest bunch (12.45 kg), followed by FHIA 25 (10.03 kg) and FHIA 17 (8.43 kg), respectively. These three genotypes were all banana hybrid varieties and may have adapted well to the climatic conditions of Abakaliki in southeast agro-ecological zone.

Morphological characterization and genetic diversity assessment of accessions of Musa spp

“…The number of ngers per midhand of the bunch ranged from ≤ 12 to ≥ 17 in the present study. However, Vinson et al (2018) reported means ranging from 11.7 to 17.7 for ngers per hand, while Oselebe et al (2018) reported a mean number of ngers ranging from 9.00 to 13.00 with a mean fruit length ranging from 14.60 cm to 21.20 cm, which is smaller than the fruit length range reported in the present work (15 cm ≤ fruit length ≥ 31 cm). Soares et al (2012) reported a positive correlation between fruit length and bunch weight.…”

“…This nding corresponds to the ndings of the present study, which reported that 55% of the bracts were retracted and rolled back. In total, 63.64% of the accessions exhibited red, dull purple or yellow outside with pink, dull purple, or yellow inside, similar to the ndings of Oselebe et al (2018).…”

“…According toSoares et al (2012), there was a signi cant positive correlation between plant height and bunch weight. Taken together, these ndings suggest that, in the present study, Efolred produced the highest bunch weight.The pseudostems of all the accessions were blotched, with SH3436 and PITA 14 being extensively and moderately blotched, respectively(Oselebe et al 2018). The classi cation of the petiole margins of Agbagba and SH3436 as clasping was based on the methods ofOselebe et al (2018).Three classes of ovule arrangements were present in the accessions studied.…”

“…Taken together, these ndings suggest that, in the present study, Efolred produced the highest bunch weight.The pseudostems of all the accessions were blotched, with SH3436 and PITA 14 being extensively and moderately blotched, respectively(Oselebe et al 2018). The classi cation of the petiole margins of Agbagba and SH3436 as clasping was based on the methods ofOselebe et al (2018).Three classes of ovule arrangements were present in the accessions studied. This nding does not correspond with the ndings ofVilhena et al (2019), who observed no ovules in their analyzed Musa samples.…”