Paulo Ricardo Rodrigues de Jesus

Brazil is a large banana producer, and technological advances have resulted in gains in national productivity. Developing new cultivars is part of the technological package that ensures the success of this activity. Among these cultivars, the ‘BRS SCS Belluna’ banana tree launched in 2016 through a partnership between Embrapa and Epagri, presents important agronomic characteristics for the sector and appears to be an option for market diversification with its small, sweet fruit. Banana trees are plants with high rates of phytomass production, which is regulated by the mineral distribution between their organs and influences mineral cycling and export. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the phytomass and minerals in the aerial part of the BRS SCS Belluna banana tree. Two production cycles were evaluated. The organs and tissues of the aerial part were separated into the pseudostem, inflorescence, stalk, leaves, peel, and pulp. The pulp had the highest dry matter content, and the pseudostem had the highest accumulation, resulting in an average cycling of 64% of the produced dry matter. Potassium and manganese were the most accumulated macro- and micronutrients in the organs and tissues evaluated, except for the leaves, where nitrogen and calcium were predominant. In general, the inflorescences and leaves had the highest mineral concentrations, whereas the pseudostem had the highest exports. The highest cycling rates were observed for calcium and magnesium (macronutrients) and manganese (micronutrient). The highest removal rates were observed for nitrogen and phosphorus (macronutrients) and boron (micronutrient).

Phosphorus is essential for plant metabolism. Although banana plants do not absorb large quantities, most of this mineral is exported together with the fruits, where the nutrients are related to sensory, nutritional, and technological qualities. Highly weathered soils, such as those found in most of Brazil, can immobilize phosphorus because of the cationic charges in iron and aluminum ions, making the element unavailable to plants and more challenging for phosphate fertilization. Brazil is the fourth-largest banana producer worldwide and plays an important role in national agribusiness. New banana cultivars are frequently introduced to address the adversities of banana farming and meet consumer expectations. This study aimed to evaluate the application levels of P ₂ O ₅ in the BRS SCS Belluna banana plant in two crop cycles. A randomized block design with five blocks in a 6 × 2 factorial scheme was used. The first factor was the level of phosphorus application (P ₂ O ₅ ), and the second factor was the crop cycle (first and second crop cycles). Variables related to plant vigor, production, and fruit quality were also evaluated. Shoot mass, plant height and diameter, number of photosynthetically active leaves, bunch yield, fruit mass, and nutritional aspects were analyzed. All plant biometric variables were positively affected by phosphate fertilization. Application of P ₂ O ₅ promoted more vigorous banana plants with a larger number of leaves at the end of the crop cycle, and these variables were positively correlated with the production of bunches, fruit mass, and nutritional quality. The bunch yield per crop cycle increased by up to 84 % compared to the lowest level of P ₂ O ₅ applied. In short, the BRS SCS Belluna banana plant responded well to phosphorus dosage, positively affecting plant vigor, which significantly influenced the production of bunches, fruit filling, and quality. The best results were achieved at P ₂ O ₅ application levels close to the recommended reference level.

A cadeia produtiva da banana é uma importante cadeia do agronegócio brasileiro. A cultura está distribuída por todo o território nacional, explorada principalmente pela agricultura familiar, mas igualmente atrativa para a agricultura empresarial. Ao longo de sua cadeia, uma boa parte da produção é perdida com frutos sem valor comercial. Contudo, esses frutos podem ser utilizados como matéria-prima para o processamento. A banana verde é um alimento com características funcionais e tem sido objeto de estudo de muitos pesquisadores. Assim, esta pesquisa buscou conhecer o Estado da Arte do processamento da banana verde no Brasil. Para esse objetivo, foi realizada uma pesquisa exploratória por meio de buscador online e pesquisa in situ na Zona Cerealista de São Paulo. O processamento da banana verde é empregado principalmente para a produção de chips, farinha e biomassa, que, em parte, podem ser comercializados como alimentos ou como ingredientes para a indústria. A atividade é explorada principalmente por microempresas, rurais ou urbanas, mas está bem distribuída por empresas de outros portes. Nos estabelecimentos físicos, há uma preferência pelos produtos a granel, os quais são facilmente encontrados nas lojas. Nas embalagens, são exploradas informações relacionadas à saúde, meio ambiente, cultura e ligações familiares, porém faltam informações mais detalhadas sobre a matéria-prima. Apesar de popular na comunidade científica, o amido de banana não foi encontrado para comercialização. O estudo quantificou e categorizou o cenário dos produtos e fabricantes ativos no processamento da banana verde, mas não permite avaliar tendências, para a qual seriam necessárias mais pesquisas.

The genetic diversity of banana plants (Musa spp.) can result in different phosphorus requirements, highlighting the importance of studies performed to optimize phosphate fertilization in order to improve the productivity and sustainability of banana plantations. This study assessed the effects of phosphate fertilization on the duration of the harvest season, bunch mass, soil fertility and foliar nutrition of BRS SCS Belluna banana plants. A replicated trial was performed in two consecutive harvests, with different phosphorus levels, i.e., 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of the recommended level for the crop. Soil analyses included macro- and micronutrients, silicon, acidity, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and base saturation. Leaf tissue was analyzed for mineral content. Thermophosphate had different effects on soil fertility and leaf nutrients. Calcium and phosphorus in the soil increased linearly. In the leaf, a reduction in zinc content was mainly observed. The lower temperatures and accumulated rainfall that occurred during the second harvest season are related to a greater number of days between flowering and harvest and a lower bunch mass. These results could support fertilization programs aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of phosphorus nutrition in banana plantations.

Banana inflorescences are usually discarded, but there has been interest in managing this by-product to turn it into a product with added value. Herein, the inflorescences of seven cultivars were processed into flour and evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics. The weight of the inflorescences ranged from 681.3 to 1245.4 g, with bracts accounting for more than 40%. The Prata Anã cultivar had the largest inflorescence. The part of the inflorescence was the main factor differentiating the flours, with the effect of the cultivar dependent on the part processed. All flours had high levels of fiber (27.70–41.91 g/100 g) and carbohydrates (19.30–33.96 g/100 g). The palm flours were differentiated by their higher levels of protein (17.4–19.4 g/100 g), and the flower flours by their higher levels of lipids (5.89–7.97 g/100 g). The bract flours had a higher water holding capacity (5.62–6.78%) and browning index (40.7–42). The bract and flower flours were less dissimilar. Results revealed the high nutritional quality of the flours and the prospect of using them as a non-conventional food source. Understanding the differences between banana inflorescence flours expands their possible uses and promotes sustainable agricultural production in terms of efficient banana by-product management.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) has potential for intercropping with banana (Musa spp.) plants, thus contributing to the sustainability of plantations. The study evaluated the growth and yield of ‘Prata Anã’ banana and seasonality, yield and essential oil properties of lemongrass grown in intercropping and the land equivalent ratio. A randomized block design in a split plot arrangement was used, evaluating two cropping systems (sole crop and intercropping) and three harvest seasons during the year for lemongrass and two harvest seasons for banana, separately. The banana can be intercropped with lemongrass without interfering with its growth and production. The biomass production and essential oil yield of lemongrass differed according to cropping system and seasonality. The chemical composition of the essential oil showed stability in the concentration of citral (mixture of neral and geranial), with an average of 94.43%. Seasonal variations were observed in the content of these compounds and other components of the essential oil, emphasizing the importance of the time of harvest in the overall value of the oil. The result demonstrates the viability of intercropping, which not only provides crop yields for both species and produces more per unit area than a sole crop but also optimizes the use of resources and promotes more sustainable farming practices.

Bananas are one of the most consumed fruits in the world and are essential for food security and in the agricultural economy. Their sustainable production is vital for many communities. Herein, the effects of banana cultivars, cropping systems (monocropping and intercropping with lemongrass), and the interaction between these factors on the physicochemical characteristics of ripe and unripe fruit were evaluated. The intercropping of bananas with lemongrass did not alter the main quality indicators of the fruit. The ripe fruits of the SCS451 Catarina cultivar stood out for their higher fruit mass, pulp/peel ratio, and firmness, while the fruits of the Prata Anã and BRS FHIA Maravilha cultivars had the highest SS, SS/TA ratio, pH, and reducing and total sugars. The cultivar SCS451 Catarina had the highest mineral content in the unripe fruit, and for all cultivars, the order of mineral levels was K > N > Mg > P > Ca > Fe > Zn. The higher content of total and resistant starch in the unripe fruit of the Prata Anã and BRS FHIA Maravilha cultivars, combined with the characteristics of the ripe fruit, make them suitable for both fresh consumption and industrial use. Diversifying cultivars improves the quality of banana fruit, and intercropping with lemongrass can be a sustainable method of managing banana fields.

Sustainable agricultural practices need to be continuously sought after so that a greater number of producers can adopt them, taking into account, above all, the food security scenario, land use efficiency, and climate change. Intercropping—a cultivation system in which two or more species are grown in close proximity in the same field—is one strategy to increase diversity in the agroecosystem. However, for intercropping systems to be adopted, their productive and economic advantages over monoculture must be clearly demonstrated. Banana (Musa sp.) growers are interested in crop diversification as a potential strategy to increase production yields and, consequently, economic income. The management of banana crops can be facilitated by intercropping, as this system plays an important role in increasing biodiversity and reducing the need for weed control in the crop rows, promoting better land use efficiency. However, this system should be evaluated alongside other indicators. Banana intercropping has significant potential and many benefits, but success depends on the interaction between the component species, appropriate management practices, and favorable environmental conditions. This review aims to provide an overview of recent studies on banana intercropping systems, focusing on the contextualization of land use, monoculture and intercropping, and evaluating intercropping indicators, as well as the benefits, risks, and disadvantages discussed in the literature, and the main outcomes of banana-based intercropping systems. The main findings relate to the possibility of using intercrops with aromatic species and the preliminary reports on the contributions of intercrops to the suppression of Fusarium wilt disease.

Diversifying cultivars and intercropping with lemongrass can innovative strategies for banana growers to enhance the variety, profitability and sustainability of their orchards and to adapt to climate change. This study took place in the state of São Paulo, a subtropical region of southeastern Brazil and assessed the duration of the cropping cycles, growth and yield performance, and leaf nutritional content of banana cultivars BRS FHIA Maravilha, SCS 451 Prata Catarina, BRS Pacoua and Prata Anã when intercropped with lemongrass. The field experiment spanned two consecutive growing seasons. The growth, yield and nutrient content in the leaves of banana cultivars exhibited similar performance in both monoculture and intercropping with lemongrass. A shorter cycle was observed only in the first harvest with the lemongrass intercrop. The Prata Anã cultivar stood out for its earlier cycle, lower plant height and higher average yield per year. These findings are valuable for planning cultivar diversification in new orchards, exploring the potential for intercropping with lemongrass, and identifying the genotypes and cropping systems that are better suited to adverse climatic conditions.