Pseudostem pruning and doses of nitrogen and boron on the production of suckers of ‘Pacovan’ banana tree

Abstract

Brazil is the second world producer of banana, however, the expansion of the banana crop has many difficulties, as the lack of suckers in amount and quality, necessary for implantation of new banana plantations. The objective of this research work was to evaluate the influence of the pseudostem pruning with elimination of the apical meristem of the rhizome and of doses of nitrogen and boron on the production and growth of banana suckers. The experiment was carried out at Centro de Formação de Tecnólogos - UFPB, state of Paraíba. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four blocks and nine mother plants by experimental unit, being two useful plants. The evaluated factors were doses of N (0 to 240 g plant^-1) and of B (0 to 2,2 g plant^-1) combined by the use of the experimental matrix ‘Central Composite’, originating nine treatments, applied with pruning and without pruning of the mother plant pseudostem. The data were submitted to the variance analysis and regression. In the plants with pruning, it was reduced the sucker number, which presented smaller growth, on the other hand, it increased the concentration of total chlorophyll. For the production of 'Pacovan' banana suckers, it is recommended the pruning of the mother plant pseudostem with elimination of the rhizome apical meristem and the application of N.