Abstract ‘SCS453 Noninha’ and ‘SCS454 Carvoeira’ are new banana cultivars derived from the subgroup Prata (AAB). In comparison with the latter, ‘SCS453 Noninha’ has a low pseudostem height, 'SCS454 Carvoeira' a high yield and both unchanged fruit characteristics. Both also have increased resistance to Panama wilt and ‘SCS454 Carvoeira’ to Sigatoka.

ABSTRACT Considerable attention has been given to the development of new nutritional management strategies that can contribute to banana production be overestimated. The present study was motivated by the possibility that fertilizer application in front of the daughter plant might be more effective than application to the total banana production area. This study aimed to determine the most suitable site for soil collection to evaluate the chemical properties when fertilizer is applied in front of the daughter plant; to evaluate the efficacy of organic-mineral fertilizer in terms of soil nutrient availability, and to evaluate the effect on banana production. The experiment was conducted in three consolidated areas of banana plantation in Santa Catarina State. The effects of the combination of two main factors were evaluated: three fertilizer sources (mineral, mineral + organic compost or organic-mineral) and two application management (total area or in front of the plants), together with time (three years) and location (three municipalities). Each treatment was evaluated using a grid containing 20 banana plants (spaced at 2.5 × 2.5 m), with three replications of two plants in the central part. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The use of a mineral source reduced the pH over the years, regardless of the application technique. Application of fertilizers in front of the daughter plant increased available P and K in the soil, compared to the application of fertilizers to the total area “uniformly distributed between banana planting lines and between plants”. In addition, the increase in soil P content was higher using organic-mineral sources. The nutrient contents in the banana leaves did not differ according to the fertilization source. The application of fertilizers in front of the daughter plant optimized banana fertilization and increased fruit production. Under these fertilization conditions, soil for chemical analyses should be collected at around 0.70 m from the site of fertilizer application.

Este trabalho avaliou a resistência à infecção de tronco e de raízes por Phytophthora nicotianae em híbridos somáticos de citros com potencial para serem utilizados como porta-enxertos. Os híbridos somáticos avaliados foram laranja 'Hamlin' (Citrus sinensis) + toranja 'Indian Red' (Citrus grandis) (plantas 1 e 2) e laranja 'Hamlin' (C. sinensis) + toranja 'Singapura' (C. grandis). Plantas de limão 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia), laranja 'Caipira' (C. sinensis), laranja-azeda (C. aurantium) e Poncirus trifoliata 'Davis A' (Poncirus trifoliata) foram utilizadas como plantas-controle devido à reação conhecida à infecção pelo patógeno. Avaliações realizadas entre 30 e 60 dias após as inoculações com o patógeno incluíram o comprimento das lesões no tronco e a massa seca do sistema radicular nas plantas avaliadas. O híbrido somático laranja 'Hamlin' + toranja 'Indian Red' (planta 1) mostrou-se tolerante a P. nicotianae, indicando potencial para continuidade nas suas avaliações como porta-enxerto para citros.

This study aimed to evaluate the resistance to trunk and root infection by Phytophthora nicotianae in citrus somatic hybrids with potential to be utilized as rootstocks. The somatic hybrids evaluated were 'Hamlin' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) + 'Indian Red' pummelo (Citrus grandis) (plants 1 and 2), and 'Hamlin' sweet orange (C. sinensis) + 'Singapura' pummelo (C. grandis). Plants of 'Rangpur' lime (Citrus limonia), 'Caipira' sweet orange (C. sinensis), sour orange (C. aurantium), and Poncirus trifoliata 'Davis A' (Poncirus trifoliata) were used as control due to their known reaction to the pathogen. Evaluations performed between 30 and 60 days after pathogen inoculation included the length of trunk lesions, and root dry mass of the root system of evaluated plants. The somatic hybrid 'Hamlin' sweet orange + 'Indian Red' pummelo (plant 1) was tolerant to P. nicotianae, indicating potential to be further evaluated as a rootstock.