Effect of Fruit Wrapping on the Production and Quality of Some Banana Varieties

News source: West Java Assessment Institute for
Agricultural Technology, Indonesia
For further information, contact Saeful Bachrein, Jl. Kayuambon No. 80, Lembang 40391, West Java, Indonesia.
Phone/Fax: 22 2786238, 2003-01-01

Scabs on Banana Fruit Caused by Thrips

SCABS on banana peel caused by infestation of thrips (Chaetanaphothrips sp.), an insect pest, can bring the quality and price of banana down at the local and international market. Control of thrips can be carried out, among others, by wrapping the fruit and through pesticide injection.

Wrapping Plus Pesticide Injection in Stem

Wrapping was done from the time the sheath (spatha) of the first bunch started to bloom until harvesting time by using a blue plastic sheet perforated with a nail. Meanwhile, pesticide was injected into the stem of plant at about 10 cm from the base of the fruit stalk from the time when the first sheath bloom appeared. The pesticide applied was Basudin (75 cc each plant). The study was conducted for 4 years (1994/1995-1997/1998) in Cikelet, Garut, West Java (Indonesia). Split plot design with four replications was used in the study. In the main plot, Cavendish banana varieties C-36, C-57, C-59, and C-60 were grown. Meanwhile, subplots were designated for pest control of thrips including wrapping, insecticide injection, and control (without pest control).

Effectiveness of Treatment

Results showed that among the four varieties tested based on the average of 3 years research, C-36 was the highest plant (178.8 cm) having the biggest stem circle (48.7 Cm). Meanwhile, C-59 was the lowest one (102.2 cm) with the smallest stem circle (45.1 cm). For the weight per fruit and bunch, C-60 was the heaviest with 100.3 g/fruit and 12.6 kg/bunch. Wrapping the fruit was able to increase weight/fruit and weight/bunch, and also decreased thrips pest infestation. Wrapping, injection, and control treatments had average weight/fruit of 99.6 g, 85.4 g and 89.4 g, and weight/bunch of 12.9 kg, 11.3 kg and 11.5 g, respectively. Wrapping was able to reduce thrips infestation from 68.4% to 62.5% compared to the control and Basudin injection.

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