DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.

1590/1678-992X-2019-0031
Crop Science

ISSN 1678-992X Research Article

Growth and production of ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ banana under different planting densities
Célia Lúcia Siqueira1* , Marlon Cristian Toledo Pereira1 , Silvia Nietsche2 , Adelica Aparecida Xavier1 , Athos Henrique Mendes1 ,
Helisson Robert Araújo Xavier1 , Railton de Souza Guimarães1 , Danilo Reis Lacerda1 , Silvânio Rodrigues dos Santos1

Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros – Depto. de

1
ABSTRACT: Increased planting density, different types of thinning management, and the use of
Ciências Agrárias, R. Reinaldo Viana, 2630 – 39440-000 – beneficial microorganisms have been adopted as strategic tools in the effort to increase crop
Janaúba, MG – Brasil. yields in a sustainable manner. This investigation evaluated the growth and production of ‘Prata
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/Instituto de Ciências
2
Anã Gorutuba’ banana (Musa spp., AAB) under different plant densities during two production
Agrárias, Av. Universitária, 1000 – 39404-547 – Montes cycles in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Micropropagated plantlets were also inocu-
Claros, MG – Brasil. lated with endophytic bacteria and cultivated as part of two mat management strategies. Plant-
*Corresponding author <[email protected]> ing density varied between 1,680 and 3,920 plant ha–1. During the experiment, water was less
than optimal because of rationing due to drought in the region. Under field conditions, there was
Edited by: Axel Garcia y Garcia no difference between bacterially inoculated and non-inoculated plants. The dense planting sys-
tem increased the crop cycle. The highest-density planting treatment (3,920 plant ha–1) resulted
Received February 08, 2019 in the highest yield in the first cycle, but no net income was observed. However, the high-density
Accepted June 25, 2019 planting treatments resulted in the highest yields and gross incomes in the second production
cycle. Management with thinning of plants up to 10-months-old and thinning up to harvest associ-
ated with high planting density increased the length of the production cycles. Although the water
restriction experienced in the first and second crop cycles, the vegetative and productive traits
of ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ banana did not compromise the objectives of this study.
Keywords: Musa spp., Bacillus sp., plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), spacing, hydric
stress

Introduction while maintaining soils with suitable water supply, greater

aerial and root cover, and thereby reduce evaporation and
Banana is the most consumed fruit in the world, transpiration rates (Eastham et al., 1990).
and Brazil has a prominent position as the world’s The association of plant growth-promoting bacteria
fourth largest producer (FAO, 2018). The state of Minas with micropropagated banana plantlets has been
Gerais is the third largest banana producing region in the reported to be beneficial under many environmental
country, favored by adequate soil and climatic conditions conditions. These microorganisms have been associated
associated with irrigation (Donato et al., 2015). ‘Prata Anã with and are responsible for biological nitrogen fixation,
Gorutuba’ (AAB) is a clone selected from the spontaneous resistance to saline and hydric stress, and promotion of
mutation of the ‘Prata Anã’ banana tree cultivated in plantlet growth as well as root development (Azevedo et
Northern Minas Gerais (Rodrigues et al., 2012). al., 2000; Andrade et al., 2014; Souza et al., 2016).
The main factors limiting banana crop expansion Many reports have been published on how to
in arid and semiarid regions are the production costs minimize the effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. For
and water, causing many banana farmers to limit or example, recently Donato et al. (2015) suggested a
abandon its production. In recent years, climate change number of simple and efficient strategies, including:
has resulted in long periods of water scarcity in the (1) scheduling fruit production; (2) increasing water
semiarid region, low water levels in dams and rivers, efficiency use; (3) improving root system and whole plant
and mandatory reductions in irrigation, limiting and nutrient availability; (4) using efficient management
hindering banana cultivation (Ferreira et al., 2016). practices; and (5) using cultivars with a high level of
Thus, several strategies, such as high-density planting resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
systems, different types of banana plantlet management, The objectives of this investigation were to
and endophytic bacteria utilization, may be considered evaluate the effects of plant density, application of plant
important to improving the efficiency of water use. growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), and management
Under conditions of normal planting density and techniques on the growth and production of ‘Prata
suitable water supply plants grow vigorously and rapidly Anã Gorutuba’ banana in the semiarid region of Minas
cover the soil and aerial spaces. Under conditions of Gerais, Brazil.
normal planting density and water limitations, plants
usually present reduced growth (both the roots and aerial Materials and Methods
parts) and consequently occupy less space. Furthermore,
inappropriate plant spacing may allow for greater water This study was undertaken in Janauba, MG, Brazil
loss through direct soil evaporation. For this reason, high (15°45’09” S and 43°18’50” W, altitude 531 m) with
planting density can improve the efficiency of water use three different phases: greenhouse and nursery (Jan to

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Siqueira et al. Banana tree dense planting

May 2015); first production cycle under field conditions 2016); vii) cycle duration from planting to inflorescence
(May 2015 to Dec 2016); and second production cycle emergence and from planting to bunch harvest; and viii)
under field conditions (Dec 2016 to Dec 2017). total number of leaves emerged during the cycle were
The experiment consisted of a randomized block evaluated monthly until inflorescence emerged.
design with four replications, nine treatments, and 20 Morphophysiological characteristics assessed
plants per plot; the six central plants comprised the at harvest time for the first (2016) and second (2017)
area of the plot that was used. Treatments consisted of production cycles included i) leaf number at harvest
four plant densities (1,680, 1,960, 3,360 and 3,920 plant time; ii) relative chlorophyll content; iii) fruit bunch
ha–1), inoculation of micropropagation plantlets with or weight; iv) stem weight; v) number of hands; and vi) fruit
without five endophytic bacteria and mother-daughter- classification (Ministério da Integração Nacional, 2000).
granddaughter (MDG) banana mat management or Fruits were classified according to their length into three
thinning mats to one pseudostem for the first 10 months categories: Class 1 (> 14 cm), Class 2 (> 12 cm), and
after planting (Table 1). Class 3 (< 12 cm). Fruits from Class 3 were discarded.
Micropropagated plantlets of banana cv. Prata Physical and chemical fruit analyses were also
Anã Gorutuba (AAB), measuring approximately 7 cm in performed. Nine fruits from the second hand per bunch
height and with at least three fully developed leaves, per treatment were used. The following traits were
were transplanted to plastic bags (18 × 24 × 0.02 cm) evaluated: i) initial fruit weight at harvest; ii) final fruit
(24 Feb. 2015). On Mar 23 2015, the second batch of weight at harvest (fruit weight after ripening); iii) fruit
micropropagated plantlets with the same characteristics peel and fruit pulp weights; iv) pulp total soluble solids;
described above was transplanted to long tubes (6 × 6 × v) pulp total acidity (AOAC, 2005); vi) pulp pH; and vii)
12.5 cm), comprising Treatment 1. At field planting time, fruit firmness.
the plantlets grown in plastic bags and long tubes were The final yield was obtained as the weight of the
subjected to 120- and 60-day acclimatization periods, bunch without the stem and the number of plants per
respectively. hectare. Economic analyses of gross income (GI) and net
Five endophytic bacterial isolates were used: income (NI) were performed for each treatment. GI was
Bacillus sp., Lysinibacillus sp., B. subtilis, B. pumilus, calculated as follows: GI = Yield * [(% Class 1 fruit *
and Rhizobium sp. Bacterial suspensions were obtained price (0.51) + % Class 2 fruit * price (0.31) + % Class 3
according to Souza et al. (2013). The five isolates were fruits * price (0.0)]. Prices used were those quoted by the
equally mixed, and 25 mL of the resulting suspension Fruit Growers Central Association of the North of Minas
was directly applied to the root system of one half of the Gerais State (ABANORTE) during the Dec 2016 and 2017
plantlets at 20-day intervals. A total of four applications harvest seasons, respectively. NI was calculated as NI =
were performed during 2015: 10 Mar, 30 Mar, 19 Apr, GI – the cost of production per hectare. The results of GI
and 09 May. Height and leaf number were evaluated and NI were expressed in United States dollars (USD).
in 4-month-old plantlets. Pseudostem diameter was Irrigation was applied with a microsprinkler
measured only in those plantlets which had been system with sprinklers spaced 7 m between rows and
acclimatized in plastic bags. Plantlets grown in long 5 m between sprinklers with a flow rate of 100 L h–1.
tubes and plastic bags were field transplanted on May In the first banana production cycle, banana plants
20 2015 to a 0.5 ha commercial area. were the same age, and three Kc crop coefficients were
In the first production cycle, i) leaf number; ii) used to manage irrigation: Kcin (0.5); Kcmid (1.10); and
pseudostem diameter; iii) leaf area (Zuculoto et al., Kcfinal (1.0). In the second cycle, the plants reached the
2008); iv) a leaf area index (Lopes et al., 2014); v) plant reproductive phase in different periods, and Kcmid was
height; vi) relative chlorophyll content (Arantes et al., the only coefficient used. Thus, crop evapotranspiration

Table 1 – Plant spacing, bacterial inoculation, management scheme and planting density for 'Prata Anã Gorutuba' banana in Janaúba, Minas
Gerais State, Brazil.
Treatment* Plant spacing Bacterial inoculation Management type Planting density
-------------------------- m -------------------------- plant ha–1
1 4.0 3.0 1.7 No MDG** 1,680
2 4.0 3.0 1.7 No MDG 1,680
3 4.0 3.0 1.7 Yes MDG 1,680
4 4.0 3.0 0.85 No Total thinning up to 10-months-old 3,360
5 4.0 3.0 0.85 Yes Total thinning up to 10-months-old 3,360
6 4.0 3.0 0.85 Yes Total thinning up to harvest 3,360
7 - 3.0 1.7 No MDG 1,960
8 - 3.0 0.85 No Total thinning up to 10-months-old 3,920
9 4.0 3.0 1.7 Yes MDG with 50 % nitrogen reduction 1,680
*Treatment 1 – plantlets acclimatized in long tubes. Treatments 2 to 9 – plantlets acclimatized in plastic bags.**Mother, daughter, and granddaughter (MDG).

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Siqueira et al. Banana tree dense planting

(ETc; mm d–1) was calculated as ETc = Kc × ET0 (Allen emergence of new leaves was interrupted by the
et al., 1998). emergence of inflorescence by which time plants had a
A 2-hour-a-day and 7-day-a-week irrigation mean of ten leaves (Figure 1A).
schedule was initially planned, with weekly water The maximum number of leaves in the leaf
rates of 60 mm in the first and second cycles. However, emergence process was reached during the fifth month
water restrictions were imposed as a result of a drought after planting, with an accumulated mean of 36 leaves
in the Irrigation Gorutuba Project and water had to be during the first cycle (Figure 1B). The first evaluation
delivered two days a week. The irrigation water was of the pseudostem diameter occurred during the second
supplemented from a private well for an additional day. month after planting. The initial and final diameters were
The irrigation scheduling was redesigned to 2-hours-a- 11 and 50 cm, respectively (Figure 1C). The maximum
day and 3-days-a-week, with weekly water application developmental rate of the pseudostem diameter was also
rates of 26 mm. From the 2,537 and 2,168 mm of water reached in the fifth month after planting.
originally planned, only 1,479 and 1,224 mm were The highest leaf area occurred in the fifth month
applied in the first and second cycles, respectively. All which presented decreasing rates until the end of the
cultural practices typically recommended for banana cycle (Figure 1D). At planting, plantlets had a mean height
cultivation were adhered to (Robinson and Galán Saúco, of 3.29 m with the highest rate of plant height growth
2010). reached at approximately five months. Mean maximum
Data were subjected to analysis of variance, and plant height at flowering was 1.80 m (Figure 1E).
means were compared using the Scott-Knott test at 5 %
probability and the Sisvar statistical software program Morphophysiological and productive traits
(Ferreira, 2014). Graphs were generated by SigmaPlot, There were significant differences in ‘Prata Anã
version 11- DEMO (Systat Software, 2011). Gorutuba’ banana growth between all the treatments
Descriptive economic analyses were also carried (p ≤ 0.05) (Table 3).
out to obtain the cost of production and financial return The number of days from planting to inflorescence
(GI and NI) of each treatment. emergence was significantly longer for the high plant
density treatments compared to the low plant density
Results treatments (Table 3). The lowest number of days from
planting to harvest was observed in treatment 9 (1,680
Micropropagated plantlet growth plant ha–1, MDG with 50 % nitrogen reduction with
Plant height and pseudostem diameter of plantlets endophytic bacteria inoculation). However, treatments
grown in plastic bags were significantly increased by 2 (1,680 plant ha–1, MDG with 50 % nitrogen reduction
the application of endophytic bacteria (p ≤ 0.05). At 120 and no endophytic bacteria inoculation), 3 (1,680 plant
days after inoculation, bioinoculated plastic bag-grown ha–1, 215 MDG with endophytic bacteria inoculation
plantlets had plant heights and pseudostem diameters and no nitrogen reduction), and 7 (1,980 plant ha–1,
of 38.1 cm and 26.6 mm, respectively. The number of MDG and no endophytic bacteria inoculation but with
leaves was not influenced (p > 0.05) by the treatments, no nitrogen reduction) did not significantly differ from
and the mean number of leaves was seven (Table 2). treatment 9 (Table 3).

Growth analyses for the first production cycle

Table 3 – Number of days from planting to bunch emergence (DPE),
There was no difference (p > 0.05) between
number of days from planting to harvest (NDH), total number
treatments for leaf number, total number of leaves of leaves emerged (NLE), pseudostem diameter (DIA), leaf area
emerged, pseudostem diameter, leaf area, and plant (AREA), leaf area index (LAI), and bunch weight (BW) of ‘Prata Anã
height until inflorescence emergence (Figure 1). Gorutuba’ banana plants as affected by different treatments in the
The maximum leaf emergence rate was observed first production cycle, 2016.
in the second month after planting. However, plants Treatment DPE NDH NLE DIA AREA LAI BW
continued to produce leaves after this period, but at cm m kg
a decreasing rate until the tenth month, when the 1 327 b 495 b 43 a 60 a 9.66 a 1.75 c 6.02 a
2 291 a 488 b 37 b 50 a 7.47 a 2.00 c 4.51 b
Table 2 – Leaf number, plant height, and pseudostem diameter in 3 301 a 491 b 38 b 52 a 7.80 a 1.75 c 4.40 b
'Prata Anã Gorutuba' banana plantlets, with or without bacterial 4 323 b 507 b 39 b 40 b 4.94 b 3.00 b 5.04 b
inoculation. 5 315 b 493 b 35 b 43 b 3.14 b 2.75 b 3.60 b
Treatment Leaf number Plant height Pseudostem diameter 6 321 b 500 b 38 b 43 b 5.03 b 3.00 b 3.34 b
cm mm 7 299 a 498 b 35 b 49 a 7.02 a 1.75 c 4.26 b
Bacterial inoculation 7a 38.1 a 26.6 a 8 328 b 503 b 39 b 43 b 5.07 b 4.00 a 4.67 b
No bacterial inoculation 7a 35.6 b 25.7 b 9 274 a 453 a 36 b 55 a 9.68 a 2.05 c 6.86 a
CV (%) 9.8 19.0 15.8 CV (%) 6.76 4.02 6.32 16.67 24.95 23.93 21.64
CV (%) = coefficient of variation. Means followed by different letters in the CV (%) = coefficient of variation. Different letters in the columns indicate
column differ from each other by Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05). significant differences by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05).

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Siqueira et al. Banana tree dense planting

Figure 1 – A) Mean leaf number until flowering; B) Total number of leaves emerged; C) Diameter; D) Leaf area; and E) Plant height of ‘Prata Anã
Gorutuba’ banana, from planting to bunch emergence in Janaúba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2016.

The number of days from planting to harvest (NDH) Table 4 – Interval between the first and second harvests (IFSH), leaf
was significantly shorter for treatment 9 only compared to number at harvest time (LNH), chlorophyll content (CC), bunch
all other treatments; all other treatments were similar. The weight (BW), stem weight (SW), and number of hands (NH) of
total number of leaves emerging was significantly higher ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ banana fruit as affected by different
for treatment 1 (1,680 plant ha–1, MDG, no endophytic treatments in the second production cycle, 2017.
bacteria inoculation, and no nitrogen reduction), and the Treatment IFSH LNH CC BW SW NH
total number of leaves emerged was similar among all ----------------- kg -----------------
other treatments (Table 3). 1 310 a 11 a 59.63 a 11.93 a 1.43 a 9a
The pseudostem diameter and leaf area were 2 317a 9a 60.17 a 10.44 a 1.14 a 9a
significantly greater for the low plant density treatments 3 342 a 9a 56.28 a 8.56 a 1.03 a 8a
(i.e., 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9) compared to the high-density 4 368 b 9a 56.94 a 9.09 a 1.08 a 8a
treatments (i.e., 4, 5, 6 and 8) (Table 3). The leaf area 5 382 b 10 a 58.32 a 9.20 a 1.16 a 9a
index increased significantly as plant density increased 6 373 b 11 a 58.01 a 10.37 a 1.09 a 8a
(Table 3). There were three different groups, 1,680 plant 7 339 a 11 a 60.42 a 10.33 a 1.18 a 9a
ha–1 (treatments 1, 2, 3, and 9) and 1,960 plant ha–1 8 360 b 11 a 57.26 a 10.28 a 1.05 a 8a
(treatment 7); 3,360 plant ha–1 (treatments 4, 5, 6); and 9 320 a 10 a 57.80 a 10.17 a 116 a 9a
3,920 plant ha–1 (treatment 8) (Table 3). Mean 345 10.1 58.34 10.04 1.15 8.6
Bunch weight was significantly higher for CV (%) 9.74 12.20 5.24 23.05 15.90 8.51
treatment 1 (1,680 plant ha–1, MDG, no endophytic CV (%) = coefficient of variation. Different letters in the columns indicate
bacteria inoculation, and no nitrogen reduction) and 9 significant differences by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05).

(1,680 plant ha–1, MDG with 50 % nitrogen reduction

with endophytic bacteria inoculation) and did not appear
related to plant density or inoculation with endophytic leaf chlorophyll content, bunch weight, stem weight and
bacteria (Table 3). number of hands of fruit between treatments (Table 4).
The crop intervals between the first and second Almost all physical and chemical fruit characteristics
harvests were significantly lower for low-density were uninfluenced by treatments during the first and
plantings, i.e., treatments 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9; 1,680 to 1,960 second cycles (p > 0.05) (Table 5).
plant ha-1, with or without inoculation with endophytic
bacteria compared to high density plantings, i.e., Yield
treatments 4, 5, 6 and 8 (Table 4). Interestingly, there Significant yield differences were found in both
were no significant differences in leaf number at harvest, production cycles (p ≤ 0.05) (Table 6). In the first production

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Siqueira et al. Banana tree dense planting

Table 5 – Initial fruit weight (IFW), final fruit weight (FFW), fruit peel weight (FPW), fruit pulp weight (FPW), pulp total soluble solids (TSS), pulp
total acidity (TA), pulp pH (PH), and fruit firmness (FF) of ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ banana as affected by different treatments in the first and second
production cycles, 2016/2017.
1st production cycle
Treatment IFW FFW FP W FPW TSS TA PH FF (N)
-------------------------------------------------------------------- g -------------------------------------------------------------------- Brix
º
%
1 66.90 a 53.51 a 14.15 a 37.67 a 24.62 a 0.64 a 4.74 a 15.93 a
2 68.48 a 46.16 a 13.05 a 33.09 a 25.44 a 0.69 a 4.65 a 21.06 b
3 60.21 a 46.61 a 14.00 a 33.48 a 25.63 a 0.71 a 4.60 a 16.09 a
4 58.66 a 49.29 a 18.90 a 31.67 a 23.55 a 0.75 a 4.72 a 15.25 a
5 65.03 a 55.58 a 18.64 a 39.07 a 24.07 a 0.72 a 4.63 a 16.88 a
6 61.08 a 49.04 a 15.98 a 34.75 a 25.45 a 0.71 a 4.63 a 19.93 b
7 59.27 a 47.53 a 14.20 a 34.80 a 25.39 a 0.62 a 4.64 a 14.67 a
8 64.45 a 51.51 a 12.89 a 38.62 a 24.86 a 0.70 a 4.80 a 14.14 a
9 59.14 a 45.45 a 15.25 a 31.76 a 24.22 a 0.67 a 4.70 a 15.65 a
Average 62.58 49.41 15.22 35.00 24.80 0.69 4.67 16.62
CV (%) 18.45 22.18 20.37 20.70 4.03 10.70 2.51 13.65
2nd production cycle
Treatment IFW FFW FP FPW TSS TA PH FF (N)
-------------------------------------------------------------------- g -------------------------------------------------------------------- Brix
º
%
1 84.12 a 76.57 a 27.42 a 49.15 a 24.24 a 0.60 a 4.44 a 24.27 a
2 98.25 a 87.28 a 28.30 a 58.98 b 22.92 a 0.55 a 4.47 a 24.21 a
3 72.86 a 64.08 a 21.11 a 42.97 a 23.55 a 0.63 a 4.39 a 25.55 a
4 62.72 a 53.28 a 18.48 a 34.80 a 24.11 a 0.61 a 4.42 a 20.03 a
5 80.85 a 70.97 a 25.07 a 45.90 a 21.63 a 0.64 a 4.44 a 24.53 a
6 85.05 a 74.50 a 23.31 a 51.19 a 24.75 a 0.61 a 4.45 a 20.00 a
7 73.43 a 60.35 a 24.35 a 36.00 a 23.71 a 0.59 a 4.48 a 24.26 a
8 56.05 a 47.51 a 14.53 a 32.98 a 24.64 a 0.56 a 4.42 a 22.51 a
9 95.90 a 84.75 a 28.63 a 56.12 b 24.12 a 0.59 a 4.39 a 25.67 a
Average 78.80 68.81 23.47 45.34 23.74 0.60 4.43 23.45
CV (%) 23.68 27.24 32.95 25.11 7.95 11.98 1.43 17.74
CV (%) = coefficient of variation. Different letters in the columns indicate significant differences by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05).

Table 6 – Yield and fruit classification of ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ from the second crop cycle were much higher than those
banana as affected by different treatments in the first and second from the first crop cycle. Yields from the low-density
production cycles, 2016/2017. plantings, i.e., 1,680-1,920 plant ha–1, were significantly
First production cycle Second production cycle lower than those of the high-density plantings, i.e., 3,360-
Classification (%) Classification (%) 3,920 plant ha–1 (Table 6). This may be attributed to there
Yield Class PROD Class being more plants per hectare as bunch weights were
Treatment
(t ha–1) 1 2 3 (t ha–1) 1 2 3 similar between all the treatments (Table 4).
1 10.21 a 7.9 51.1 41.0 17.64 a 47.02 44.00 8.98
2 6.50 a 5.9 40.6 53.5 15.62 a 46.11 40.89 13.00 Gross income and net income
3 6.29 a 0.5 27.5 72.0 12.63 a 22.46 63.07 14.47 At the end of the first production cycle, treatments
4 10.41 a 8.3 40.9 50.8 26.93 b 33.32 57.18 9.50 4, 8, and 9 had the greatest gross income due to a
5 10.14 a 0.0 28.6 71.4 27.03 b 32.43 52.31 15.26 higher percentage of Class 1 fruits, although there was
6 8.55 a 6.8 29.7 63.4 31.18 b 49.08 42.68 8.24 no significant difference in the percentages of Class 1,
7 7.43 a 3.8 32.7 63.6 17.93 a 48.07 41.49 10.44 2 and 3 fruits (Tables 6 and 7). Negative net income
8 16.80 b 14.2 28.8 57.0 36.18 b 42.87 42.66 14.47 were recorded for all treatments at the end of the first
9 10.37 a 30.0 42.4 27.5 15.15 a 44.99 44.27 10.74 production cycle. This may be partly attributed to the
CV (%) 26.64 - - - 24.05 - - - high percentage of Class 2 and 3 fruits. In contrast,
CV (%) = coefficient of variation. Different letters in the columns indicate gross and net income were significantly higher for high
significant differences by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05). density planting treatments compared to low density
plantings at the end of the second crop production cycle
cycle, the yield of treatment 8 (3,920 plant ha–1) was (Table 7). This may be attributed to increased yields
significantly higher than that of all the other treatments. and percentages of Class 1 fruits for the higher density
However, there were no significant differences in the plantings compared to the lower plantings despite the
percentages of Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 fruits. Yields higher cost of production (Tables 6 and 7).

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Siqueira et al. Banana tree dense planting

Table 7 – Cost of production, gross income (GI) and net income (NI) of ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ banana as affected by different treatments in the first
and second production cycles, 2016/2017.
First production cycle Second production cycle
Treatment GI Production cost NI GI Production cost NI
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- USD -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 1,459.41 a 7,885.51 –6,426.10 6,189.58 a 3,929.86 2,259.71
2 1,008.44 a 7,885.51 –6,877.07 4,951.83 a 3,929.86 1,021.97
3 758.92 a 7,885.51 –7,126.58 4,449.28 a 3,929.86 519.42
4 2,443.03 b 11,616.76 –9,173.72 10,306.08 b 6,337.09 3,969.01
5 960.01 a 11,616.76 –10,700.74 9,534.68 b 6,337.09 3,197.58
6 1,128.78 a 11,616.76 –10,487.98 11,819.02 b 6,337.09 5,481.92
7 1,477.75 a 8,367.29 –6,889.54 7,048.70 a 4,249.05 2,799.65
8 2,888.02 b 13,517.97 –10,629.95 2,573.90 b 8,266.47 4,307.42
9 3,646.33 b 7,885.51 –4,239.18 5,311.12 a 3,929.86 1,381.25
CV (%) 45.64 - - 26.79 - -
CV (%) = coefficient of variation. Different letters in the columns indicate significant differences by the Scott-Knott test (p ≤ 0.05).

Discussion number of leaves emerging throughout the first cycle

were similar to previously reported data, with values
First and second cycle varying from 40 to 45 leaves per plant cycle–1 for ‘Prata
The optimum number of days for the banana Anã’ banana plants (Turner et al., 2007). During the first
tree development cycle is approximately 400 under four months, a higher leaf emergence rate was observed.
ideal conditions, with approximately 100 days for each This fact is associated with the optimal range of local
developmental phase (Donato et al., 2015). All treatments temperatures. According to Robinson and Gálan Saúco
resulted in increased duration of the first cycle (> 450 (2010), 31 °C is considered an optimal air temperature
days). No association with planting density, type of for leaf emergence.
plantlets, or management practices was observed. The Plants in the highest planting density treatments
only exception was treatment 9, in which there was an (3,360 and 3,920 plant ha–1) had smaller pseudostem
association between bacterial inoculation, 50 % nitrogen diameters but higher leaf area index values. Both
(N) reduction, and low density planting (1,680 plant ha–1) characteristics are essential and indirectly associated
which reduced the duration of the first cycle by 8 %. The with yield. The pseudostem diameter is one of the most
increase in cycle duration may have been associated with important traits associated with plant vigor (Rodrigues
the water restrictions. et al., 2009). In the present study, only one cycle was
The association of bacterial inoculation plus a 50 % evaluated. Long-term studies will be necessary to evaluate
nitrogen (N) reduction and low planting density (1,680 the impacts of high planting density on yield, longevity,
plant ha–1, treatment 9) reduced the duration of the first and fruit quality.
cycle. When considering these results and comparing ‘Prata Anã Gorutuba’ is classified as a medium-
treatments 3 and 9, the only difference that emerges sized cultivar. A previous investigation reported that the
between them was the reduction in N application. The 50 cultivar had a mean height of 2.5 to 3 m in the first cycle
% N reduction associated with the water restriction was (Rodrigues et al., 2009). In the current study, the plants
associated with more positive outcomes than the total exhibited a lower mean height (1.86 m). The reduced
dose of N applied in treatment 3. Most probably, a number plant height in the present investigation may have been
of aspects of the N cycle in the soil were affected, and the due to the water deficit.
plants subjected to treatment 9 performed favorably. The highest planting density (3,920 plant ha–1)
The interval between the first and second harvests significantly increased yield in the first cycle. Nevertheless,
was affected by planting density. All high-density fruit quality was not influenced, and the gross and net
treatments (3,360 and 3,920 plant ha–1) had longer income data corroborate this finding.
intervals between cycles than low-density treatments. The effects of planting density were more
In contrast, leaf number at harvest time, chlorophyll pronounced in the second production cycle, especially
content, bunch weight, stem weight, and number of those on yield and gross income, compared to the first
hands were not affected. cycle. According to Rodrigues et al. (2009), ‘Prata Anã’
The higher number of total leaves emerged in banana mean yields of 22 to 35 t ha–1 yr–1 and 10 to 20 t
plantlets grown in long tubes was probably due to the ha–1 yr–1 were achieved under irrigated and nonirrigated
age of the plantlets (60-day acclimatization period). conditions, respectively, in the Minas Gerais semiarid
During evaluation in the field, these plantlets continued region. The yield recorded in the second production cycle
to produce leaves for a more extended period until bunch for densities above 3,000 plant ha–1 can be considered
emergence. The results recorded (treatment 1) for the reasonable, despite the lower percentages of Class 1

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Siqueira et al. Banana tree dense planting

fruits. There is no consensus about the effects of high Design methodology: Pereira, M.C.T. Data analyses:
planting densities on banana cultivation. Certain studies Siqueira, C.L.; Santos, S.R.; Xavier, A.A. Writing and
have demonstrated that high planting densities have editing: Nietsche, S.; Pereira, M.C.T.; Siqueira, C.L.
greater yields per unit area, although they affect fruit
quality and substantially increase the duration of the References
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de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) H.; Hernandez, C. 2014. A simplified methodology for the
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