Variation in fruit traits of pawpaw under different rates of poultry manure

Twelve pawpaw (Carica papaya L.) accessions were evaluated at Nsukka (Latitude 6°51′28″ N Longitude 7°23′44″ E at an elevation of 423 m above sea level), Nigeria, under three poultry manure (PM) rates (0, 5 and 10 t ha-1) in order to study the effect of the manure variation on fruit traits. The experiment was a split plot laid out in randomised complete block design replicated thrice. Main plot treatment was poultry manure rates and sub-plot treatment was the 12 accessions of pawpaw. Data on percent number of fruited plants, number of fruits harvested, true-to-type fruit pulp colour and fruit shape were collected. The effect of accession showed that Cnd-Cl-Ro significantly (p ≤ 0.05) produced the highest number of fruited plants (80.0%). Number of fruits harvested was highest in accessions Ijm-Cl-Ro and Ijm-Sp-Ly (6.8). Accession Ijm-Sp-Ly had highest fruits with similar pulp colour and fruit shape (53.3%) to the initial. Application of 10 t ha-1 of PM significantly produced the highest number of fruited plants (60.0%) and fruits harvested (4.4) but did not significantly affect true-to-type fruit pulp colour and shape

Response of Musa species to macro-propagation. I: Genetic and initiation media effects on number, quality and survival of plantlets at prenursery and early nursery stages

Ricehull and sawdust were evaluated as Musa sucker plantlet initiation media using five genotypes as test plants. Sword-sucker-corms whose apical dominance was physically destroyed were planted and evaluated for plantlet production during a period of about five months. The number, quality and pattern of plantlets produced and their survival were studied. Results showed that initiation media had statistically similar effects on most parameters measured. However, number of days to the emergence of the second and third plantlets was significantly (

Phenotypic and genetic correlations in Musa populations in Nigeria

Breeding efforts for genetic improvement of banana and plantain have gradually shifted from individual trait selection to simultaneous improvement of several traits, following an ideotype concept. Therefore, information on the phenotypic and genetic association among these traits, and the influence of environmental factors thereupon, would be valuable to the Musa   breeder. In this regard, the correlation of several traits with bunch weight was assessed for a sample of 36 Musa genotypes grown at three locations (Abuja, Ibadan and Onne) for two consecutive crop cycles. Genetic correlations between bunch weight and plant height at flowering, height of the tallest sucker at maturity of mother plant and number of days for fruit filling were smaller than phenotypic correlations, suggesting a synergistic effect of genotypes and environments on phenotypic relationship between bunch weight and those traits. However, the genetic correlations between bunch weight and the number of days to flowering or the number of leaves was higher than phenotypic correlations. The associations between bunch weight and yield components were higher than between bunch weight and phenological traits. In the former cases, the genetic correlation was similar to the phenotypic correlation, indicating that the effect of genotype x environment interaction on the relationship between bunch weight and yield components was neutral. This indicates that yield components could serve as indirect selection criteria for yield. Generally, there was a higher genetic expression for most yield components during the second crop cycle in all the environments. This probably implies that selection should be carried out in the second crop cycle. Different correlations were observed across locations, suggesting that different selection indices may be constructed to identify ideotypes best suited to specific agro-ecological niches

Genetic and cropping system effects on yield and postharvest characteristics of Musa species in Southeastern Nigeria

(African Crop Science Journal: 1999 7(1): 1-8