Genetic analysis of yield in banana

Abstract

The forty eight banana varieties showed significant differences with reference to the 18 characters studied and a large portion of variability in all the characters except length of individual finger was due to genetic factors. Out of 17 characters studied, 13 showed strong correlation with bunch weight. Heritability estimates in the broad sense was high (over 80%) for eleven components and moderately high (65 to 80%) for all the rest except length of individual finger. Genetic gain was highest for weight of individual finger which recorded maximum direct effect on bunch weight. Characters like total number of fingers per bunch, number of hands per bunch, bunch length and girth at the base of pseudostem at shooting time have positive direct effect on bunch weight while, girth of individual finger, total number of leaves per plant and leaf area contributed mainly through other characters. Selection index formulated using characters such as bunch weight, number of hands per bunch, bunch length, total number of fingers per bunch and weight of individual finger was the most effective.