Abstract

External appearance and routine availability of fruits are the prime criteria for good marketability of bananas. In Assam, high density planting (HDP) is considered as a profitable practice in banana cultivation. However, the days taken to maturity and pest infestation are two of the most important factors hampering the production and market value of bananas. In addition to it, fall of temperature during the winter months hampers the crop cycle of banana to a greater extent in HDP. Considering the above sited problems, an investigation was carried out in the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Jorhat during 2013–14 in order to find out the best bunch cover material among white non-woven polypropylene bag, blue non-woven polypropylene bag, transparent polyethylene bag, leno bag, gunny bag, dry banana leaves and control (no cover) in banana cv. Jahaji (AAA) under the HDP to overcome delay in maturity and improvement of bunch appearance. It was observed that all bunch covers, irrespective of colour and material, significantly improved the fruit appearance. The highest numbers of scars and highest percentage of affected fingers were obtained in uncovered bunch (16 and 51.67%). Bunch covers protected the bunch from insect infestation and reduced the number of scars by 60% over control. However, the lowest number of scars and lowest percentage of affected fingers were obtained in T1 (6.56 and 7.67%). The experiment inferred that bunch covers also positively influenced the crop duration. White non-woven polypropylene bag recorded the shortest shooting-harvest interval (98.56 days) and days taken to harvest (422.33 days), while control recorded the longest shooting-harvest interval (120.44 days) and days taken to harvest (448.83 days). Variation in temperature within the covers was considered responsible for such change.