EVALUATION OF iWO BANANA CULTIVARS GROWING IN SANDY SOIL UNDER DRIP iRRIGATION SYSTEM IN RELATION TO GROWTH ,FRUIT QUÍLITY AND ‘ SUCCESSFUL MARKETING

This investigation was carried out during two successive seasons of 2003 and
2004 on two Cavendish-type banana cultivars are “illiams and “Grand Nain”
growing ¡n sandy soti under drip irrigation system to study their growth, fruit quality
and successful marketing. Data show that, Pseudo-stem of “Grand Nain” plants were
significantly shorter arid thicker than “Williams” plants, therefore the Pseudo-stem of
“Grand Nain” plants can be considered more stable than Pseudo-stem of “Whiams”
plants. On the other hand, at maturity stage (at harvest), “Grand Nain” CV. obtained
the highest values of bunch weight and length and linger length, weight, size and
angulation %. Also, “Grand Nain” CV. showed the highest SSC%, acidity %, total
sugar % and total starch % in fruit than “WilliamsTM CV.
Fruits of two cultivars held at room temperature for 9 days, and the high
percent of total loss(25.85 — 3275%) was in ‘Williams” CV., whereas this percent
was(34.91 — 3882%)mn “Grand Nain” CV. Thus two cultivars banana fruits reached the
end of shelf life period(9 days), but ‘Williams” banana fruits have a suitable
marketable conditton for Least value of total loss compared with” Grand Nain” CV.