Yield Trial of Pisang Mas Banana Mutant Clones Derived from Gamma Irradiation

Abstract

Growing Pisang Mas banana varieties that are suitable for each area is one of the methods to increase yield and quality. The objectives of this experiment were to compare and select Pisang Mas banana mutant clones derived from Gamma irradiation for high yield and quality suitable for commercial production in southern Thailand. The experiment was conducted at Trang Horticultural Research Center in Trang province from October 2018 to September 2020. A completely randomized design of six treatments with three replicates comprised 5 Pisang Mas banana mutant clones, KM8-22, KM9-20, KM22-5, KM22-27, KM30-11 and Kamphaeng Phet (commercial variety) was used. Results showed that KM22-27, KM30-11 and Kamphaeng Phet gave closely and consistently higher yield than the others in two consecutive harvesting seasons. The yield range in the first, second year and average of two years were between 3,909-4,180, 3,989-4,248 and 3,980-4,149 kg/rai, respectively. For quality, KM22-27 and KM30-11 had statistically significant less sour taste than that of Kamphaeng Phet. In addition, the yield components of KM22-27 and KM30-11, i.e., bunch weight, panicle weight, fruit weight and fruit length had no statistical differences compared to those of Kamphaeng Phet. Therefore, KM22-27 and KM30-11 were the two new Pisang Mas banana clones which had potential for commercial production in Trang province or the southern region of Thailand in the future.