Agronomic response of banana plants 'FHIA-17' cultivar (Musa AAAA) obtained by tissue culture and agamic propagation

The production of bananas (Musa spp.) has increased worldwide and demand for many inputs, so it is necessary to introduce productive and disease-tolerant cultivars. An investigation was carried out with the objective of evaluating the agronomic response of banana plants cultivar 'FHIA-17' (Musa AAAA) obtained by tissue culture and agamic propagation. 'FHIA-17' plants from micropropagation and agamic propagation were evaluated in the field under production conditions. Plants of cv. 'Grande naine' (Musa AAA) obtained by micropropagation were use as reference. Plant materials were compared in terms of the duration of the planting-flowering and planting-harvest cycle. At flowering, plant height (cm), pseudostem circumference (cm), number of total and functional leaves, and response to black Sigatoka were evaluated. As yield indicators, the net weight of the bunch, number of hands and fruits per bunch were determined. The 'FHIA-17' plants showed the phenotypic characteristics according to the descriptors of the cultivar and the micropropagated plants were superior to those from agamic propagation in all the indicators evaluated, except in the number of leaves, which was similar. Both the plants from micropropagation and those from agamic propagation had a superior response compared to the cultivar 'Grande naine' and could be an alternative for banana production in Cuba.