Abstract
Dwarf banana cultivars were evaluated for yield and fruit quality under different ecological conditions over a 3-year period. Under semi-arid conditions at Santa Isabel (south coast) with drip irrigation, cultivars Ziv and Grand Nain averaged 60,465 kg/ha/year of marketable fruits, equivalent to 3,322 boxes. At Yabucoa, with high rainfall and no irrigation, cultivars Valery and Grand Nain averaged 50,765 kg/ha/year, or 2,789 boxes. The removal of two or more lower hands soon after bunch shooting significantly reduced yields in all cultivars but increased fruit size and weight in the distal hand. Taste panel evaluations of appearance, flavor, texture and overall acceptability classified ethylene-ripened fruits of Grand Nain, Valery and Johnson as "acceptable" for the fresh-fruit market. When properly ripened, none of the cultivars were affected by "finger drops."