Jw. Daniells et al., The banana selection J.D. Special has longer fruit and heavier bunches than cv. Williams but bunch losses are also increased, AUST J EX A, 39(8), 1999, pp. 1013-1016
Yield and plant characteristics of the longer fingered selection 'J.D. Spec
ial' were compared with cv. Williams which is the industry standard. Data f
rom 2 sources ('experiments'), including on-farm trials at 6 sites in Queen
sland, Australia, (experiment 1) and an experiment at the Queensland Depart
ment of Primary Industries South Johnstone Research Station investigating m
aturity bronzing (experiment 2), were utilised for this report.
The fruit on hands 2 or 3 of J.D. Special were on average 10-15% longer in
the crops investigated. Increased finger length occurred along the entire b
unch resulting in 15 and 6% more extra large fruit for J.D, Special than fo
r Williams in the plant crops of experiments I and 2, respectively. Similar
differences were observed in the ratoon crops.
Bunches of J.D. Special were 19-22% heavier than Williams for plant crops.
A combination of greater fruit length and more hands per bunch in J.D, Spec
ial contributed to their greater bunch weight. J.D. Special took longer fro
m planting to harvest (average of 17days) but yields/unit time were still 1
7-19% greater than Williams,
Plants of J.D. Special were more prone to bunch losses with 2 cases of 35 a
nd 45% loss compared with no losses for Williams, the losses being largely
due to wind damage. This susceptibility of J.D. Special is presumably due t
o its greater plant height and heavier bunch weight. Fruit greenlife of J.D
, Special was 17% less than Williams in the one crop investigated, although
this was not significant (P>0.10).