Weed species in banana (Musa spp.) production systems in Türkiye

Abstract

Background: Banana (Musa spp.) cultivation, has a centaury history in open fields in Mediterranean part of Türkiye has become enlarged for three decades due to benefits of covered production. Objective: Weed species, their frequencies, distributions and reasons under current techniques and geographical attributes in banana fields and greenhouses were determined to provide data to develop strategies and systems for sustainable weed management and cultivation of banana. Methods: Weeds and their coverage and densities were determined in banana fields and greenhouses surveying 2% of banana production acreage in 2021-2022. Results: 68 different species of 25 families were recorded. The most common weed species were Cardamine occulta, Amaranthus retroflexus, Portulaca oleracea, Conyza canadensis, and Oxalis corniculata. The number of weeds, their coverage and densities in individual fields were not affected significantly by production method (open-field vs greenhouse) or banana cultivars but location. Years and field size affected the number of weed species while homogeneity and cycles affected weed coverage and density. Dominant species in greenhouses were C. occulta, Pilea microphylla, O. corniculata, Echinochloa crus-galli, Setaria verticillata, and A. retroflexus but Cyperus rotundus, S. verticillata, O. corniculata, and P. oleracea in open fields. C. occulta and Pilea microphylla were recorded first time in Türkiye. Conclusions:The most common species and dominant species in fields are mainly aliens including both neophytes and archeophytes. Greenhouses and production techniques might have effect on weed problem. There are needs for further research on banana weeds including their controls to establish better strategies and control systems in banana management.