In the irrigated area of Jaíba in Northern Minas Gerais, there are reports on the presence of some genotypes of banana cv. Prata-Anã supposedly tolerant to the Panama disease, where the disease was not established after 15 years of cultivation even in the presence of the pathogen. Therefore this study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity, agronomic performance and behavior of genotypes of banana 'Prata-Anã' cultivated in area with a history of Panama disease. Twenty-four families were collected, 11 classified in the moment of the collection as diseased (GEN 1, GEN 2, GEN 3, GEN 4, GEN 5, GEN 6, GEN 7, GEN 8, GEN 9, GEN 10 and GEN 11), and 13 apparently healthy (GEN 12, GEN 13, GEN 14, GEN 15, GEN 16, GEN 17, GEN 18, GEN 19, GEN 20, GEN 21, GEN 22, GEN 23 and GEN 24). This material were multiplied in tissue culture laboratory and taken to planting at the experimental area. Twenty-four treatments were evaluated (clones of banana 'Prata-Anã'), in a randomized block design with three replications, 20 plants per plot and the central six in useful area. In addition to the genetic diversity, length and diameter of pseudostem, leaf number, bunch, hands and rachis weight, number of hands and fruits, length and girth of the central fruit of the second hand, the percentage of dead plants, incidence and severity of Panama disease were evaluated. The average genetic distance between clones was 43.5%, ranging from 11.8% to 85%. Individuals GEN 12, GEN 13, GEN 19 and GEN 22 showed larger pseudostem at ground level and at 30 cm above the ground, and were higher. Individuals GEN 13, GEN 17 and GEN 19 stood out in both production cycles as Panama disease tolerant.
Musa spp.; agronomic characters; Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense
