Performance of first ratoon crop in banana as influenced by parent pseudostem and sucker management

An experiment was carried out at the Mohanpur, during 1997 and 1998 to asse ss the impact of retaining parent pseudostem at different height (s) on gro wth and yield of first ratoon sucker(s) severed/non-severed with the parent pseudostem in dwarf cavendish banana (Musa, AAA) cultivar. Giant Governor. Retention of untopped parent pseudostem gave maximum height and girth of t he connected/non-severed suckers compared with the retention of parent pseu dostem cut at mid height and corm level. Leaf size and total leaf productio n were markedly increased while bunch emergence was delayed in the connecte d/non-severed suckers by retaining untopped parent pseudostem. Retention of single sucker connected/non-severed with the untopped parent pseudostem ex hibited highest finger weight and yield/plant over the severed suckers and parent pseudostem cut at mid height and corm level. But the fruit yield/ha was recorded highest with retention of two suckers connected/non-severed wi th untopped parent pseudostem.