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Characterisation and early detection of an offtype from micropropagated Lady Finger bananas

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Smith, M. K., Hamill, S. D., Doogan, V.J. and Daniells, J. W. (1999) Characterisation and early detection of an offtype from micropropagated Lady Finger bananas. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 40 (39). pp. 1017-1023.

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Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/EA99098

Publisher URL: http://www.publish.csiro.au/

Abstract

An offtype has been identified from micropropagated Lady Finger bananas (Musa spp., AAB group, Pome subgroup) that is characterised by its slow growth and poor bunch size. Bunch weights were approximately 25% those of normal Lady Finger plants and all of the fruit produced was unmarketable. This particular offtype is the most commonly encountered from micropropagated Lady Finger plants and, in 2 instances, blocks of 3000 and 1500 plants were entirely comprised of this single offtype. Detection of offtype plants was possible during establishment and growth of plants in the glasshouse by the presence of chlorotic streaks in the leaves. In more severe cases the streaks coalesced into chlorotic patches that developed thin, necrotic areas that eventually produced holes or splits in the leaves. Symptom expression was not ameliorated by the addition of fertiliser and even though symptoms were similar to severe Ca and B deficiency, both normal and offtype plants had similar levels of these elements in the leaves. The offtype plants were also slow growing in the glasshouse and produced significantly (P<0.05) smaller pseudostems and leaves than normal plants. Offtype plants could be readily detected after 4 weeks deflasking using the presence of chlorotic streaks in the leaves as the main selection criterion. Maximum discrimination was possible between weeks 5–7 and at the 6-leaf stage when all of the offtypes could be detected.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Horticulture and Forestry Science
Additional Information:Reproduced with permission from © CSIRO Publishing. Access to published version may be available via Publisher’s website.
Keywords:Offtype; micropropagated; Lady Finger bananas; Musa spp.; growth and bunch size; bunch weights.
Subjects:Plant culture > Fruit and fruit culture > Culture of individual fruits or types of fruit > Bananas
Plant culture > Propagation
Live Archive:24 Dec 2007
Last Modified:17 Feb 2023 04:32

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