Bananas and Plantains

Contents......Page 6
Origins and Early Distribution......Page 10
Present Distribution of Banana and Plantain......Page 12
Main Banana-producing Countries......Page 16
Main Banana Markets......Page 22
Factors Influencing World Trade......Page 26
Basis of Modern Classification......Page 30
Major Genomic Groups and Cultivars in World Use......Page 35
Breeding and Selection......Page 46
Handling and Identification of Banana Germplasm......Page 55
Root System......Page 60
Rhizome and Suckers......Page 62
Leaves and Pseudostem......Page 66
Inflorescence and Bunch......Page 68
Development of the Fruit......Page 72
General Climatic Requirements......Page 76
Temperature Comparison Between Four Banana-growing Areas......Page 78
Implications of Rainfall......Page 82
Specific Problems due to Climate......Page 84
Phases of Plant Development......Page 98
Phenological Responses......Page 99
Physiological Responses......Page 111
Site Selection......Page 124
Tropical Soil Classification......Page 125
Soil Physical Requirements......Page 126
Soil Chemical Requirements......Page 129
Soil Biological Limitations......Page 130
Soil Preparation......Page 131
Types of Planting Material......Page 134
Multiplication and Preparation of Planting Material......Page 139
Methods of Planting......Page 143
Time of Planting......Page 145
Planting Densities and Spatial Arrangements......Page 147
Systems of Cultivation......Page 158
Product Certification Schemes......Page 165
9 Nutritional Requirements......Page 170
Nutrient Elements – their Functions and Deficiency Symptoms......Page 171
Nutrient Cycling......Page 176
Plant Analysis......Page 179
Fertilization......Page 182
Soil Degradation and the Rise of Organic Nutrition......Page 185
General Water Requirements Worldwide......Page 188
Irrigation Systems......Page 189
Irrigation Scheduling......Page 194
Irrigation of Plantains......Page 199
Weed Control......Page 202
Sucker Management......Page 203
Plantation Soil Covers......Page 212
Canopy Management......Page 214
Bunch Management......Page 216
Ratooning and Plantation Life......Page 222
12 Diseases......Page 226
Fungal Diseases......Page 227
Bacterial Diseases......Page 235
Viral Diseases......Page 237
Role of Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes in Controlling Banana Diseases......Page 240
Rhizome and Root Pests......Page 242
Bunch Pests......Page 248
Leaf Pests......Page 250
Role of Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes in Controlling Banana Pests and Diseases......Page 251
Harvesting......Page 254
Transport from Field to Packshed......Page 257
Packshed Operations......Page 261
Transport to Market......Page 265
The Pre-climacteric......Page 268
The Climacteric......Page 270
Ripening......Page 271
Biochemical Characteristics......Page 272
Nutritional Value and Uses......Page 275
Processing......Page 279
References......Page 282
B......Page 308
C......Page 309
D......Page 310
F......Page 311
H......Page 312
L......Page 313
M......Page 314
P......Page 315
R......Page 317
S......Page 318
T......Page 319
Y......Page 320