Greenhouse cultivation of babaco(CaricaxheilborniiBadillo n.m.pentagona(Heilborn)): Effect of media, container size, stem number, and plant density

Abstract

The effects of growing media, pot size, number of stems, and plant density on fruit yields of greenhouse-grown babaco plants (Carica × heilbornii Badillo n.m. pentagona (Heilborn)) were determined. No significant differences were found in the total yield or days to harvest between plants grown in sawdust and Peatlite (2 peat : 1 perlite), nor between plants grown in 23-litre and 45-litre pots, nor between twostemmed and single-stemmed plants. However, twostemmed plants produced significantly more, but smaller, fruits/plant than single-stemmed plants. The yield (fruit weight)/plant = 6.88 + 4.50/x r 2 = 0.97, P < 0.05, fruit number/plant = 1/(0.050-0.0075/x)r 2 = 0.79, P < 0.05, and fruit size (mean fruit weight) = 386 + 313 -x / 0.86 r 2 = 0.94, P < 0.05, decreased over plant densities ranging from 0.5 plants/m 2 to 3.7 plants/m 2 . However, on an area basis, yield (fruit weight)/m 2 = 1/(0.032 + 0.155 -x ) r2 = 0.79, P < 0.05, and fruit number/m 2 = -23.3 + 49x-2 r 2 = 0.98, P < 0.05, increased, indicating that with increasing plant density, greater economic returns might be achieved, disregarding fruit size, which decreased with higher yields. The flowering habit of the babaco is indeterminant and as fruit are formed further up the stem, they mature smaller. At 49°N where the experiments were conducted, plants failed to set fruit from November to March. This pattern was related to the amount of solar radiation and daylength.

Évaluation de l'intérêt du babaco (Carica pentagonaHeilb.)

“…Après désinfection éventuelle du terrain et ajout de fumure organique, la plantation peut alors être réalisée en double ligne ou en triangle avec une densité de culture de 1 plant pour 1,5 m 2 , soit de (4000 à 6000) plants⋅ha -1 [2,5]. Une densité trop élevée diminue significativement la quantité de fruits produite et peut réduire leur taille jusqu'à 30 % [13].…”

“…En Nouvelle-Zélande les fruits sont récoltés, en général, 11 mois après la plantation. Dans ces pays, malgré une floraison continue sur l'année, la plante ne développe pas de fruits en hivers à cause d'un ensoleillement insuffisant [13,14].…”

Ribes Production in North America: Past, Present, and Future

“…Endt (1986) reported that greenhouse cultivation, as opposed to field culture, is necessary to produce high-quality babaco fruit with soft, edible skin. Fortunately, the plants are easily cultivated under greenhouse conditions (Evequoz, 1990;Kempler et al, 1993) (Fig. 2).…”

“…The flowering habit of babaco is indeterminate. Under greenhouse conditions, plant growth during the winter months (October-March at 49°N) is slow, and flowers senesce and fail to set fruit (Evequoz, 1990;Kempler et al, 1993). Under field culture in Ecuador, the trees begin cropping 10 months after planting and continue bearing for 6 months, yielding about 40 fruit/tree, each fruit weighing 1 to 1.4 kg (Oosten, 1986).…”

“…Both reports appear to be practical guidelines for commercial production of the crop. Kempler et al (1993) grew plants ranging in density from 0.5 to 4 plants/m 2 and reported that, with increasing density, the number of fruit per plant, yield per plant, and fruit size decreased, while yield per square meter, number of fruit per square meter, and days to harvest increased. They also compared growing media and the effect of number of stems per plant, and described the flowering and fruiting habit of the plants.…”