Assessing New Banana Genotypes for Relevant Traits: Implication for Variety Selection

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Date
2020Author
Tumuhimbise, Robooni
Barekye, Alex
Talengera, David
Akankwasa, Kenneth
Nowakunda, Kephas
Asasira, Moreen
Karamura, Deborah
Karamura, Eldad
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Show full item recordAbstract
Understanding the performance of new crop genotypes for traits of relevance
is important in selecting potential cultivars to satisfy end-users. The objective
of this study was to determine the performance of new banana genotypes for
bunch mass (BMS) and BMS-related traits, resistance to black Sigatoka and
sensory attributes. Eight cooking banana genotypes consisting of six new hybrid
genotypes selected from advanced breeding trials and two control cultivars
were evaluated in a randomized complete block design for three crop
cycles at three locations in Uganda. Genotype, location, crop cycle and their
interaction effects were significantly different for most traits assessed. The
overall top two genotypes (“9058K-2” and “8099K-16”) combining high BMS,
resistance to black Sigatoka and acceptable sensory attributes were identified.
These genotypes are suggested as potential commercial cultivars for release to
farmers in Uganda and/or other East African countries with similar environmental
conditions to those where the genotypes were tested. It should be
noted that high BMS/yield and resistance to diseases are not the only factors
to consider when selecting banana genotypes that meet end-user needs. A
combination of high BMS/yield, acceptable sensory attributes and resistance
to diseases essentially influence the selection process of banana cultivars.