African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6915

Full Length Research Paper

Multi-locational evaluation of cooking banana cultivars ‘NARITA 4’ hybrid and ‘Mpologoma’ in Rwanda

Ndayitegeye O.
  • Ndayitegeye O.
  • Rwanda Agricultural Board, P. O. Box 5016, Kigali, Rwanda.
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Blomme G.
  • Blomme G.
  • Bioversity International, c/o ILRI, P. O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Ocimati W.
  • Ocimati W.
  • Bioversity International, Kampala, Uganda.
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Crichton R.
  • Crichton R.
  • Bioversity International, Montpellier, France.
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Ntamwira J.
  • Ntamwira J.
  • Bioversity International, Bukavu South Kivu, Congo.
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Muchunguzi P.
  • Muchunguzi P.
  • International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Kampala, Uganda.
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Van Asten P.
  • Van Asten P.
  • International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Kampala, Uganda.
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Bahati L.
  • Bahati L.
  • Bioversity International, Bukavu South Kivu, Congo.
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Gaidashova S.
  • Gaidashova S.
  • Rwanda Agricultural Board, P. O. Box 5016, Kigali, Rwanda.
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  •  Received: 21 July 2017
  •  Accepted: 29 August 2017
  •  Published: 12 October 2017

Abstract

This study assessed the growth and yield of two introduced cooking banana cultivars ‘Mpologoma’ and ‘NARITA 4’ relative to seven local highland cooking cultivars, across three sites in Rwanda, namely Karongi (1496 m a.s.l.), Gatore (1523 m a.s.l.) and Rwinzuki (1671 m a.s.l.). Data were obtained during two cropping cycles (plant crop cycle and the 1st ratoon). Data on pseudostem girth (cm) at 100 cm above the ground was collected at flowering, while number of hands per bunch, number of fingers of the second lowest hand and bunch weight (kg) were obtained at bunch harvest. Significant differences for all assessed growth and yield parameters were observed between cultivars (p<0.001). Generally, the two exotic cultivars ranked high with respect to number of fingers on the second lowest hand and number of hands per bunch. ‘Mpologoma’ had the largest bunch with a mean bunch weight of 23 kg, whereas ‘NARITA 4’ had a bunch weight of 17 kg which was comparable to the local cultivars. Thus, these 2 cultivars could potentially be adopted by farmers.

 

Key words: Banana germplasm, local cultivars, plant crop, ratoon crop.