ABSTRACT
The evaluation of tetraploid genotypes, originated from crosses between commercial triploid and diploid cultivars, improved or wild, has been made to solve traditional problems of cultivars type Prata, as susceptibility to pests and diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and fruit quality of banana trees ‘Pacovan Ken’ and PA94-01 genotype during the first and second production cycles in Vale do São Francisco in the northeast of Brazil. The seedlings were produced by the tissue culture process and transplanted into the field at six months of age, spaced 3.0 m × 3.0 m apart. In both production cycles, the following variables were evaluated: number of days between planting and harvesting, plant height, pseudostem perimeter, number of adult leaves, bunch fresh mass, number of hands and fruits per bunch, second hand fresh weight; number, length and diameter of second hand fruit, pulp/peel ratio, firmness, pH, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), and SS/TA ratio. The PA94-01 genotype had more vigorous plants and with better productive characteristics in the two production cycles. However, the cycle duration and physicochemical characteristics of fruits were similar to those of 'Pacovan Ken' fruits.
Key-words:
Musa sp.; tetraploid; agronomic performance; Vale São Francisco.