Bananas and plantains

Contents......Page 5
Origins and Early Distribution......Page 9
Present Distribution of Banana and Plantain......Page 11
Main Banana-producing Countries......Page 15
Main Banana Markets......Page 21
Factors Influencing World Trade......Page 25
Basis of Modern Classification......Page 29
Major Genomic Groups and Cultivars in World Use......Page 34
Breeding and Selection......Page 45
Handling and Identification of Banana Germplasm......Page 54
Root System......Page 59
Rhizome and Suckers......Page 61
Leaves and Pseudostem......Page 65
Inflorescence and Bunch......Page 67
Development of the Fruit......Page 71
General Climatic Requirements......Page 75
Temperature Comparison Between Four Banana-growing Areas......Page 77
Implications of Rainfall......Page 81
Specific Problems due to Climate......Page 83
Phases of Plant Development......Page 97
Phenological Responses......Page 98
Physiological Responses......Page 110
Site Selection......Page 123
Tropical Soil Classification......Page 124
Soil Physical Requirements......Page 125
Soil Chemical Requirements......Page 128
Soil Biological Limitations......Page 129
Soil Preparation......Page 130
Types of Planting Material......Page 133
Multiplication and Preparation of Planting Material......Page 138
Methods of Planting......Page 142
Time of Planting......Page 144
Planting Densities and Spatial Arrangements......Page 146
Systems of Cultivation......Page 157
Product Certification Schemes......Page 164
9 Nutritional Requirements......Page 169
Nutrient Elements – their Functions and Deficiency Symptoms......Page 170
Nutrient Cycling......Page 175
Plant Analysis......Page 178
Fertilization......Page 181
Soil Degradation and the Rise of Organic Nutrition......Page 184
General Water Requirements Worldwide......Page 187
Irrigation Systems......Page 188
Irrigation Scheduling......Page 193
Irrigation of Plantains......Page 198
Weed Control......Page 201
Sucker Management......Page 202
Plantation Soil Covers......Page 211
Canopy Management......Page 213
Bunch Management......Page 215
Ratooning and Plantation Life......Page 221
12 Diseases......Page 225
Fungal Diseases......Page 226
Bacterial Diseases......Page 234
Viral Diseases......Page 236
Role of Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes in Controlling Banana Diseases......Page 239
Rhizome and Root Pests......Page 241
Bunch Pests......Page 247
Leaf Pests......Page 249
Role of Fungal and Bacterial Endophytes in Controlling Banana Pests and Diseases......Page 250
Harvesting......Page 253
Transport from Field to Packshed......Page 256
Packshed Operations......Page 260
Transport to Market......Page 264
The Pre-climacteric......Page 267
The Climacteric......Page 269
Ripening......Page 270
Biochemical Characteristics......Page 271
Nutritional Value and Uses......Page 274
Processing......Page 278
References......Page 281
B......Page 307
C......Page 308
D......Page 309
F......Page 310
H......Page 311
L......Page 312
M......Page 313
P......Page 314
R......Page 316
S......Page 317
T......Page 318
Y......Page 319