Breeding of a new dwarf banana cultivar 'Zhongjiao No.11'

Abstract: 'Zhongjiao No.11'is a new dwarf banana cultivar selected by bud mutation from tissue culture seedlings. It was initially selected in 2008 for its dwarf plant, wide, thick and deep green leaf, and thick pseudostem. Then, sucks were obtained and used for tissue culture seedlings, followed by investigations of the resulting plants' biological characteristics and fruit quality in 2010. It is showed that their genetic traits were stable. From 2011 to 2012, a variety comparison test was carried out in Guangzhou, Maoming, Dongguan and Huizhou. From 2013 to 2015, multiple regional tests and production tests were conducted in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and other production areas. The new cultivar was licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture in May 2017. The plant of this species is significantly dwarfed, and the height of the false stem in the field is about 1.76 m, with strong growth potential, open leaves, shorter and wider leaves and shorter petioles. The fruit panicles are long cylindrical, compact in structure, neat in comb and good in commodity character. Ripe fruit skin is yellow, the flesh is yellow white, with sweet flavor and good quality. The soluble solids content of fruit is 16.2%, soluble sugar content is16.10%, sucrose content is 7.32%, titratable acid content is 0.29%, and vitamin C content is 103 mg·kg-1. The growth cycle was relatively short, and the new plantain was about 300-330 days, 30-45 days shorter than the common Cavendish cultivars. The average plant yield of new plantain is 21.5 kg, and the yield is 2 580 kg per 666.7 m2. This cultivar is suitable for popularizing and planting in the main banana producing areas in China. This variety can also get a great harvest by planting large seedlings in spring in the sub-suitable area of cold.