Abstract

VARGAS-CALVO, Alfonso  and  RIVAS-GOULD, Roberto. Polyethylene protective lamella effect on banana productivity without fruit deflowering. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.3, pp.345-358. ISSN 2007-0934.

Two experiments were conducted in Costa Rica Caribbean, both in favorable climatic period (experiment 1) and unfavorable (experiment 2). Treatments and the new type of polyethylene foam slide (low thickness and closed cell) were: 1) without lamellae between hands or between rows of each hand (control); 2) with lamellae just between hands; 3) with lamellae between rows of each hand; and 4) with lamellae between hands and between rows of each hand. Measured variables were: bunch weight (kg), thickness (1/32") and length (cm from pulp to tip) from the central fruit of the external row of the second, fourth and sixth hand and number of days since lamellae placement until harvest. Additionally factors of rejection and the number of boxes per bunch (ratio) were identified. Bunch weight (experiment 1: p= 0.9571 and experiment 2: p= 0.5662), thickness and length of the central fruit of the outer row of the second, fourth and sixth hand (experiment 1: p> 0.2378, experiment 2: p> 0.1137) as well as days since lamellae placement until harvest (experiment 1: p= 0.5169 and experiment 2: p= 0.6916) did not differ between treatments. Regardless of the treatments, it was a higher number of rejected fruits per cluster during the favorable climatic period (64.5 to 86.5 fruits) respect to adverse climatic period (9.6 to 16.4 fruits). Lamellae placing did not influence the expression of rejection by fruit growth scar without deflowering in the field and did not improve, compared with control, boxes per cluster relation.

Keywords : bunch weight; fruit size; hands protection; Musa AAA; polyethylene foam; rejections factors.