There are two types of planting materials.

• The commonly used propagation material is sucker or corms. The sucker should be a sword sucker, with narrow leaves of 3 to 4 months old, weighing 1.5 to 2 kg. The suckers should be of uniform size, selected from disease free plantations.
• Recently tissue cultured plants are becoming popular due to its disease free nature and high yield potential. An ideal tissue culture plant should be about 25-30 cm height with 5 to 6 developed leaves having proper orientation. The leaves should not exhibit any malformation and chlorotic streaks.

If the planting material is a sucker, the roots should be trimmed and pared-off all tissues on the surface to make it free of nematode infestations. The pared corm should be dipped in a solution containing 0.5% Monocrotophos for 30 minutes. Alternatively application of 40g of Carbofuran in the soil at planting.

For tissue culture plants, especially Robusta and Cavendish varieties should be applied with 10g Carbofuran and drenched with 0.1% Emisan to control nematodes and bacterial rot disease respectively in the polybag itself before planting.

Yes, tissue culture plants are high yielding and healthy as they are multiplied from high yielding mother plants free from viruses. The plants are also free from soil borne pest and diseases like wilt, Erwinia rot and nematodes at the time of planting.

Yes, tissue culture plants can be economically ratooned for 2 crops.

Yes, they are as good as original tissue culture plants in respect of high yielding ability. But they are not free from viruses and soil borne diseases and pests.

No, commercial multiplication is not being done at NRCB.

We supply only samples to interested growers at free of cost and mother cultures to institutions at nominal rates depending upon the availability and demand.

If sufficient care is not taken in the multiplication stage. The tissue culture plants may undergo mutation and result in off types

The permissible limit for off types as per the DBT guidelines is less than 5%. So quality of planting material is very important for planting and it should be purchase from reputed companies.

• The selected suckers should be ‘pared’ by trimming of all the roots along with surface layers superficially to remove any rotten portion of the corm. Dip the pared suckers in 0.2% Carbendazim (2g/litre of water) solution for about 15 –20 minutes as a prophylactic measure against Fusarium wilt disease.
• Keep the treated suckers in shade overnight before planting. Plant the suckers in the center of the pit and press the soil around the suckers firmly.
• In order to protect the plants from nematode attack or corm weevil attack, apply 40 g of Carbofuron granules per pit and irrigate the field thoroughly.

Grand Naine, Red Banana, Nendran and Ney Poovan.

The advantage is 50-100% increase in population per unit area, 25-30% reduction in fertilizer and water consumption, 30-40 percent reduction in cost of cultivation and 30-40% increase in profit per unit area.

The ideal plant spacing suitable for different commercial cultivars and plantains as well as the plant population under different spacing are given in the following table.
Plant population under different planting systems

S.No	Method of Planting / Varieties	Spacing (m)	Population / ha
1 i)	CONVENTIONAL PLANTING Dwarf Cavendish	1.5 x 1.5	4440
ii)	Robusta and Nendran	1.8 x 1.8	3080
iii)	Rasthali, Poovan, Karpuravalli, Monthan.	2.1 x 2.1	2260
2. a)	HIGH DENSITY PLANTING Paired row planting system i) Dwarf Cavendish ii) Robusta, Grand Naine, Poovan, Rasthali and Ney Poovan	1.2 x 1.2 x 2.0 1.5 x 1.5 x 2.0	5200 3800
b)	Three suckers / hill (Robusta, Nendran)	1.8 x 3.6	4500

• Yes, for additional income and also for effective land use efficiency, short duration crops such as onion, green gram, black gram, beans, radish, greens, marigold and short duration vegetables can be grown as intercrop.
• However, solanaceous crops such as tomato, brinjal and chillies as well as cucurbitaceous vegetable like cucumber, pumpkin, gourds, water melon, musk melon etc., should not be grown as intercrop since these crops harbour nematodes and aphids, which act as vector of virus spread.

The banana varieties suitable for higher elevations of up to 1000m above MSL are Virupakshi, Sirumalai, Namaran, Red Banana, Manoranjitham (Santhana vazhai) and Ladan.

Good grade bunch could be obtained by timely application of all the macro and micro nutrients and through timely irrigation. In addition, in order to get more bunch weight and better finger filling, the bunches should be sprayed with 2% Potassium Sulphate (20g/litre of water) solution with surfactant by thoroughly drenching the bunch first a week after the emergence of the last hand and again one month later. Further, cover the bunch with 100 gauge thick white or blue polythene sleeves having 6% ventilation. The benefits of bunch covering includes avoidance of any mechanical damage or insect damage to the fruits and also facilitates early fruit maturity, better fruit color development without any bruises and black spots and there by fetches higher price in the market.

It is due to the physiological phenomena called ‘Kottavazhai’ or ‘Seediness” and is found more in the plants infested with banana streak virus (BSV) disease. This could be overcome by spraying 2,4 – D at the rate of 25 ppm within 20 days after opening of last hand (1 g/40 lit/200 bunches) or 1.2 g of Sodium salt of 2,4 – D dissolved in 40 lit of water for 200 bunches.

Depending on the varieties and the climatic conditions, it takes 110-130 days from bunch emergence to full maturity and harvesting of bunches. The maturity of fruits can be assessed by,

• Change of peel colour from dark green to pale green.
• Disappearance of angularity and fullness of fingers.
• Ringing sound upon tapping of the fruits.

The matured fruits should be harvested with a sharp knife leaving sufficient length of peduncle for easy handling and transportation. To avoid any damage of fruits and to get better price, proper care should be taken while handling and transporting of bunches.

Providing required quantity of fertilizers mainly N and K either daily or weekly in small quantities through drip irrigation system is called fertigation. The high density planting coupled with drip irrigation/ fertigation would greatly reduce cost of cultivation and enhance productivity.

Due to its vigorous growth and more number of roots, the tissue culture plants require 50% more fertilizers than the conventional plants. The fertilizers should be applied in 5-7 splits at 30 to 45 days interval as against 3 splits in conventional planting method.

Banana plants require 16-20 lit. of water. The water soluble / conventional fertilizers are dissolved and applied through drip daily or at weekly intervals, so that the absorption and utilization are maximum. More number of split application of fertilizers at proper stage alongwith micronutrients is possible in fertigation.

Loamy textured soil with at least 2 m. depth and proper drainage facilities is suitable for banana cultivation. The slope of the land should be <1%. There should not be subsurface hard pans and calcarious layers. The gravel content of the soil should not exceed 5%.

Banana plant requires 200 g of nitrogen (N), 30-50 g of phosphorus (P) and 300-450 g of potassium (K) applied in 3-5 split doses.

Urea, ammonium sulphate, super phosphate, diammonium phosphate, potassium chloride (muriate of potash) and potassium sulphate (sulphate of potash).

The banana plants commonly exhibit micro nutrient deficiency symptoms for zinc and boran. To correct these deficiencies soil application of 25 g zinc sulphate/plant and 5 g of borax is recommended. Foliar spraying of 0.5% zinc sulphate and 0.05% boran is recommended between 3-5th month after planting.

Yes. ‘Banana Shakti’, a micronutrient mixture is available at NRCB for sale (Rs.200/kg).

Banana Shakti contains all the essential micronutrients like iron, copper, zinc, manganese and boron in optimum concentrations and in proper proportions.

Banana Shakti mixture should be applied at the rate of 10 g/plant. It indirectly increases the macronutrient use efficiency.

Yes, it increases the yield by 10-15% with an additional profit of Rs.10000 to Rs.15000 per hectare.

Yes, the mixture is suitable for both soil and foliar application. Two percent foliar spray of this mixture in high pH soil avoids fixation of micronutrients in the soil.

Yes, Micronutrient deficiency generally occurs in sandy soils, which lacks micronutrient elements. High pH clay soils rich in micronutrients, have less micronutrient supplying power. In such types of soils, micronutrient deficiency is very common.

In general, soil application of micronutrient is recommended, where the soil pH is less than 8.5 and foliar spraying of micronutrients is recommended where the soil pH is more than 8.5. In case of soil application, 10 g of ‘Banana Shakti’ (micronutrient mixture developed at NRCB) per plant at 4th month after planting (MAP) is recommended. In case of foliar spray, 2% Banana Shakti solution along with suitable adjuvant (sticking agent) at 4 MAP, 5 MAP and 6 MAP to correct the symptoms and increases the growth and yield.

In alkali or sodic soil, apply more quantity of organic manures (15 to 20 kg/plant). Generally, banana roots have the capacity to eliminate or avoid sodium ion entry into the plant system from soil. This capacity could be enhanced by the presence of sufficient potassium ions in the soil. So, application of 20 to 30 per cent more potassic fertilizers is recommended.

Before planting of banana, first apply 5 to 7 tonnes of gypsum (calcium sulphate) per hectare, incorporate thoroughly in to the soil by proper ploughing, then stagnate water in the field and after one week, drain it and improve the drainage facilities. Apply 2 kg of gypsum per plant in the 60th day after planting, drain it with affluent water before application of fertilizers. The soil K:Na ratio should be maintained as 2½ : 1 at any time during banana growth period.

Marginal scorching of banana leaves is observed in high pH soils and is due to accumulation of sodium ions in the leaves which lead to marginal chlorosis and subsequent necrosis. To rectify this problem, application of 2 kg of gypsum/plant along with good irrigation. Increase the quantity of potassium application in the fertilizer schedule by 20 percent. Give foliar spray of 2% potassium sulphate solution along with sticking agent.

In banana cultivation under acid soils, apply 100 g CaCO₃ (Calcite) or 100 g Dolomite (calcium-magnesium carbonate) per plant and avoid acid forming fertilizers like ammonium chloride, ammonium sulphate etc. Prefer single super phosphate and rock phosphate as phosphatic sources. Apply silicon rich, easily available materials like fly ash or rich husk ash or composted sugarcane trashes or paddy straw at the rate of 10 kg per plant, for better release of phosphate ions for banana growth.

Yes, application of 25g of vesicular arbuscular micorhiza (VAM) and 25g of phosphobacteria per plant to increase the availability of insoluble phosphorus to plants in such soil conditions. The recommended dose of potassic fertilizers like KCl or K₂SO₄ should be applied in splits, in small quantities at a time. The optimum soil Ca:Mg:K ratio for banana cultivation is 10:5:1. This ratio should be maintained through regular soil testing.

A technology for growing banana organically by using organic fertilizers, bio pesticides and fungicides has been developed at this Centre. For organic bananas, there is a great demand for export and in domestic market. Successful organic farming is possible if the soil is highly fertile and rich in organic matter.

Application of vermicompost to banana is recommended and good for improving soil health. The farmers can produce the required vermicompost from their farm waste, it is more economical.

Farm yard manure, vermicompost, poultry manure, pig manure, press mud, composted coir pith, goat manure, bone meal, blood meal, horn and hoof meal etc. are suitable organic manures for banana.

Pseudostem stem borer is becoming a serious pest affecting varieties like Nendran, Karpuravalli, Robusta and Rasthali. The incidence is observed after 5th month. This pest can be monitored and controlled by keeping the longitudinal split of pseudostem of 90 cm length or disc on stump trap @100 per ha.

Jelly exudation on the stem is the initial symptom of the stem weevil damage.

Chlorpyripos 2.5ml/l with adjuvant 1ml/l swabbing on the stem prevents infestation of banana stem weevil. Once jelly exudation is noticed, inject 2ml monocrotophos solution (350ml in 150ml water). Two injections per plant at 2 and 4 feet above the ground level till flowering. The injection needle should enter only two or three leaf sheaths and should not touch the central core.

The, National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Trichy is selling the mother inoculums of biocontrol agents for farmers which can be mass multiplied under farm house conditions by the farmers themselves.

Cut the stem into 90 cm length bits and split the same into two halves. Each piece will be used as a trap. These traps are to be placed @100/ha near the base of banana plants. The trapped weevils have to be collected manually and killed.

Yes, entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and Heterorhabditis indica can be swabbed on the stem trap and kept in the garden. The weevils attracted to the traps will get infected and killed. This will avoid manual collection and killing of weevils.

The longitudinal split traps can be swabbed on the cut surface with entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana @ 25g containing 1X10⁹ CFU/gm or the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis indica @25ml/trap containg 1x10⁸ IJs/ml. Keep the traps near the base of the plants.

Banana stem injector can be purchased from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore or Secretary, Vanoli Uzhavar Sevai Maiyam, Chatram Bus Stand, Trichy 620 002.

Spray Bacillus thuringiensis (2 gm/l with 1 ml adjuvant/l). Pheromone traps were also available which can be tied @ 10/ha at about 3 feet above ground level. Chemical control measure is spraying of chlorpyrifos @ 2.5 ml/l with adjuvant.

Thrips (Helionothrips kadaliphilus) and foliar mite (Tetranychus sp.) and Eutetranychus orientalis infestation is more during dry weather. It can be controlled with spray of Dimethoate 1.5 ml/l with 1 ml adjuvant/l.

Nematodes are worms like structure feeding on the roots and damaging the plants. Nematodes cannot be seen through naked eye. It can be seen only through microscopes.

Nematodes attack the roots by piercing the tissues with their spear-like stylet and feeding on the cell contents. More damage occurs after nematodes invasion due to the infection by other organisms present in the soil, such as fungi and bacteria and some carried by the nematodes.

The most damaging and widespread nematodes attacking banana are : the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae, spiral nematode, Helicotylenchus multicinctus, root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and cyst nematode, Heterodera oryzicola. Nematodes form a major pest on banana and crop losses caused by nematodes is estimated about 20%.

Nematode infested banana plants have poor growth with lanky pseudostems, foliar necrosis and produce very small bunches. However symptoms on roots and corms are more specific. Lesion-nematode produces small cuticular sunken lesions on the creamy white to light orange coloured portion of the main tender roots of banana. Whereas, on older roots surface cracks appear. This shows extensive reddish-brown lesions in cortex when cut longitudinally. These cause decay and death of distal cells. In heavily nematode infested field, banana plants topple over easily during wet and windy weather because of inadequate anchorage.

Yes. Incidence and losses due to banana wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cubense is enhanced in association with major nematode pathogens viz. Radopholus similis, Pratylenchus coffeae or Meloidogyne incognita. Infection of nematodes prior to fungus or in combination resulted in the early onset and increased severity of the Fusarium wilt symptoms incidence.

Yes. Lesion nematodes can be effectively managed by applying Carbofuran 50g/plant, one at the time of planting and two applications after planting at 3 months interval. Plant recovery and yield increase was observed in the plants applied with Carbofuran.

Nowadays, non-chemical methods are receiving greater attention in view of the chemical residual toxicity and the pollution of soil and environment. Marigold (Tagetes spp.) grown as an inter crop reduced the root lesion nematode population with 25 per cent yield increase. Crop rotation with paddy, sugarcane, green gram, sunnhemp (Crotolaria juncea) followed by banana are recommended. Cultivation of sunnhemp is generally recommended prior to planting in order to manage the nematode population.

Select the suckers from nematode free banana field. Otherwise, collect the planting material after paring immerse the suckers in hot water at 50-55°C for 20 minutes or dip the suckers in 0.1 per cent Monocrotophos solution for 30 minutes to get nematode free planting material.

• Newer nematicides Rugby 10G applied at 5g per plant during 3 and 5th month reduced the nematode population and increased the yield. The cost is much cheaper.
• Among different neem formulations, Econeem formulations was found to be very effective in reducing the nematode populations and enhanced plant growth.

Biocontrol agents like Paecilomyces lilacinus, Verticillium chlamydosporium, V.lecanii, Pasteuria penetrans, Bacillus subtilis and VAM Glomus mosseae were found very effective in reducing the nematode population and increase the plant growth.

• The sudden toppling down of banana plants is due to heavy incidence of nematodes, resulting in poor anchorage.
• There are five major nematodes infesting banana and causing economical damage to the plants.
• This can be controlled by application of carbofuran 40g at time of planting and at 5th month after planting.

Cultivars like Ney Poovan, Rasthali, Virupakshi, Sakkia, Monthan, Red Banana and Nadan are susceptible to wilt pathogens.

Spray 0.1% Propiconazole at 20 days interval. Remove old diseased, infected hanging leaves before spray. 3-4 sprays may be given. The same fungicides should not be repeated and different fungicides like Carbendazim (0.1%), Calixin (0.2%) Mancozeb or Copper oxychloride (0.25%) may be sprayed with any wetting agent (5ml/10 l water) on the under side of the leaf gives very good control of leaf spot diseases.

Yes, the FOC can cause pseudostem split symptoms. Similar symptoms are also noticed with Erwinia rot disease.

• Use pathogen free suckers, pairing and pralinage of suckers, application of Furadon and dipping in 1% Bavistin is necessary before planting.
• Use tissue culture plants.
• Drenching and injection with 2% Bavistin (3ml/plant) can minimize the spread.

Based on characteristic symptoms induced by individual virus, it can be identified. Virus indexing using diagnosis kit can be used to detect viruses.

NRC Banana is conducting three types of training programmes (paid/sponsor) under PHT for the benefit of farmers, women, NGOs, SHG, entrepreneurs and various other stakeholders as detailed below:

• Training on Production of Value Added Products from Banana
• Training on Extraction of Banana Fiber and Production of Handicrafts
• Training on Post Harvest Handling, Packing, Storage and Ripening in Banana for Domestic and Export Markets

Fourteen value added products are being taught in the practical sessions of the training programmes as detailed below:

• Fig, Juice/RTS, Jam and Sweet Chutney from ripe-banana
• Chips, Sauce, Flour, Baby Food, Health drink and Soup-mix from un-ripe (raw) banana
• Pickle from flower of banana
• Candy from Centre core stem
• Fiber from pseudostem sheath of banana

Banana chips, flour, flour based products like baby food, banana fig (dehydrated banana), flower pickle (thokku) are being marketed.

It can be started at any level, however, it is advisable to begin with cottage to small scale industries level.

Banana fiber is obtained mainly from pseudostem-sheath of banana. The fiber is used for making handicrafts, wall-hangings, paper products, fancy items, etc.

From all the commercial varieties of banana, the fiber could be extracted. However, the best quality fiber could be obtained from Red banana, Nendran, Pachanadan, Cavendish group (Robusta, Grand Naine and Basrai). The yield may vary from 0.5 to 1.5% i.e. 100 to 200 kg of fiber per acre.

The details of the machine and its cost can be obtained The Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI), Rajahmundry, Vijayanagaram mandal, East Godhavari Dist., Andhra Pradesh.

The ethylene gas is recommended for artificial/commercial ripening of banana.

Cavendish group (mainly Grand Naine) and French plantain (Nendran) are mainly exported from India.

• The Agricultural and Processed Food products Export Development Authority (APEDA) - An export promotion organization under Ministry of Commerce & Industries, GoI., New Delhi [http://www.apeda.com/]
• National Horticulture Board (NHB), Ministry of Agriculture, # 19-22, (Garage) Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001, Tele/Fax: 011-23097015, 23073019; (http://www.nhb.gov.in/)
• Ministry of Food Processing Industry (MoFPI), GoI, New Delhi (http://mofpi.nic.in/)
• National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development, Mumbai. (http://www.nabard.org/)
• KHADI & VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION, Gramodaya", 3, Irla Road, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai -400 056. Maharashtra, India, Fax: 022-26711003; Tel: 26714320-22 (www.kvic.org.in )