Relationship of pseudostem cross-sectional area with bunch weight, fruit quality and nutrient status in banana cv. Rasthali (Pathkapoora - AAB)

A field experiment was conducted during 2005–07 to find out the relationship between pseudostem cross-sectional area (PCA) with bunch weight, physico-chemical characteristics of banana fruit, dry matter and nutrient content in leaf, pseudostem and fruit of banana. The pseudostem cross-sectional area (321.58, 327.96, 338.31, 344.20, 348.82, 354.14, 365.57, 376.49, 386.18 and 396.70 cm2) were calculated at 30 cm above the ground level. The bunch weight and physico-chemical properties of fruits improved with increasing the pseudostem cross sectional area from 321.58 to 396.70 cm2. Maximum bunch weight (13.22 kg), number of hands and finger (8.2 and 104.65/bunch), TSS (24.97°Brix), TSS/acid ratio (227.00); leaf, fruit and pseudostem dry matter content (30.50, 27.58 and 9.42% respectively), leaf nutrient content (N- 2.21%, P- 0.21% and K- 2.04% respectively), fruit nutrient (N- 1.16%, P- 0.079% and K- 1.23% respectively) and pseudostem nutrient content (N- 0.66%, P- 0.042% and K-1.16%) were recorded in plants with maximum pseudostem cross sectional area. Positive and linear relationship were recorded between pseudostem cross-sectional area and bunch weight, number of fingers, TSS and TSS/acid ratio, whereas negative correlation was observed between pseudostem cross-sectional area and fresh and ripe finger weight, peel and pulp weight and fruit acidity. The maximum fresh and ripe finger weight (152.23 and 137.45 g/finger), peel and pulp weight (18.24 and 119.21 g/finger), finger size (14.75 × 4.38 cm) and titratable acidity (0.16%) were recorded with lowest trunk cross-sectional area.