Selection and Evaluation of High Yielding Horn-type Plantain Clones in Puerto Rico: An Explanation for Their Behavior

Abstract

Fifty-seven clonal selections of the horn-type Maricongo cultivar were evaluated at six locations. Five of these selections averaged 44 marketable fruits and 13.1 kg/bunch. Although asexually propagated, variability within the clonal population was quite high for all the bunch and plant characteristics studied. Reversion from the horn to the French type occurred in some plants and others produced horn-type bunches with fewer than 30 large fruits. Both of these "off-type" plantains appeared randomly in the clonal populations at all locations. These "off-type" plants produced "true to type" offspring in subsequent Pn generations. An explanation of the possible mechanism responsible for this occurrence is discussed. Irrespective of clone, all plant and bunch characteristics were affected by location. Considering the variability observed within the clonal population as well as effects of the environment, it is estimated that 85% of the suckers originating from a Maricongo stump with a yield potential of 50 or more marketable fruits/bunch will produce bunches containing 40 or more fruits in the plant crop. If the 15% of the "off-type" plants are allowed to continue mingling within the population, they will multiply "true-to-type," and after Pn generations will constitute a majority in a clonal selection that once had a high yield potential.