ABSTRACT
The characterization and evaluation of new genotypes bananas is an important step both for breeding programs and for nomination to producers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and fruit quality post-harvest of 'Maravilha' and 'Preciosa' bananas in the first and second production cycles, grown in Sub-middle São Francisco Valley. The seedlings produced by tissue culture, were transplanted to the field after six month old, cultivated in the spacing of 3 x 3 m. Both two cycles, for all characteristics was adopted a completely randomized design with two treatments (cultivars), 10 replicates and two plants per plot, with external borders test. The following variables were evaluated: production cycle (days between planting and harvesting), plant height, pseudostem perimeter, number of adult leaves, bunch fresh mass, number of cluster and fruits per bunch, fresh mass of the second cluster; number, length and diameter of fruits of the second cluster, pulp/skin ratio, firmness, pH, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA) and SS/TA ratio. The 'Maravilha' banana showed plant and yield characteristics superior to 'Preciosa' banana; in the physical and chemical characteristics, the 'Preciosa' banana had fruit with higher sugar content, however, smaller size; and for other characteristics, the two cultivars showed behavior similar to each other in the first and second production cycles.
Key words:
Musa sp.; agronomic performance; physical-chemical characteristic
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