CRESCIMENTO E TEORES DE CLOROFILA EM MUDAS DE BANANEIRA EM FUNÇÃO DA SUPRESSÃO DO PSEUDOCAULE, DE DOSES DE NITROGÊNIO E DE BORO GROWTH AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT OF BANANA SUCKERS IN FUNCTION OF PSEUDOSTEM SUPPRESSION AND DOSES OF NITROGEN AND BORON

The objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of the removal in the pseudostem with elimination of the meristem apical of the rhizome and doses of nitrogen and boron, about the production and growth of banana suckers. The experiment was carried out at Centro de Formacao de Tecnologos UFPB, State of Paraiba. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replications and nine mother plants for experimental unit, being two useful plants. The evaluated valued factors were doses of N (0 to 240 g plant-1) and of B (0 to 240 g plant-1) combined in agreement with 1 Departamento de Ciencias Fundamentais e Sociais, CCA/UFPB, Campus II, Cidade Universitaria, Areia-PB, Cep: 58397-000. Fone: 83-3362-2291. E-mail: wep@cca.ufpb.br 2 Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Agronomia, CCA/ UFPB, Campus II, Cidade Universitaria, Areia-PB, Cep: 58397-000. E-mail: tjardelino@hotmail.com 3 Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Manejo do Solo e da Agua, CCA/UFPB, Campus II, Cidade Universitaria, Areia PB, Cep: 58397-000. E-mail: rwcraposo@cca.ufpb.br; oliveira@cca.ufpb.br 4 Centro de Formacao de Tecnologos, UFPB/Campus III, Bananeiras PB. Cep: 58220-000, E-mail: raunira@cft.ufpb.br Recepcao/Reception: 2008.10.07 Aceitacao/Acception: 2010.04.12 REVISTA DE CIENCIAS AGRARIAS 218 the experimental matrix ‘Central Composite’, originating nine combinations, which were arranged factorially with suppression and without suppression of the pseudostem of the mother plant. The data were submitted the variance analysis and of regression. The suppression in the pseudostem of the mother plant with elimination of the apical meristem of the rhizome increased the sucker number, with larger growth, except of the diameter of the rhizome which it reduced. In the plants with suppression, it reduced the sucker number which presented smaller growth. On the other hand, it increased the content of total chlorophyll. For the production of ‘Pacovan’ banana suckers, is recommended the suppression in the pseudostem of the mother plant with elimination of the meristem apical of the rhizome and the application of the N. Key-words: Brasil, chlorophyll, Musa sp. propagation, sucker.