[Pil-pc-oceania] New dwarf variety lady-finger bananas (Farmonline)

[Deb Guildner]

This variety, at 1m tall, can easily be grown almost anywhere if given 
shelter from frost etc.
A small greenhouse would suffice.


      Breaking Rural News : HORTICULTURE

     New dwarf plants promise banana revolution
      Australia
      Monday, 17 December 2007

      http://www.farmonline.com.au/news_daily.asp?ag_id=47571

      A new dwarf variety of banana promises to revolutionise local 
Ladyfinger production and deliver more of Australia's favourite 
lunchbox-sized bananas.
      NSW Department of Primary Industries horticulturist, Peter Newley, 
said the chance discovery of a dwarf plant by local grower, Gerry Rossi, has 
led industry and researchers to investigate how effectively tissue culture 
can be used to propagate new dwarf plants.

      "Traditional propagation from suckers can produce just a handful of 
plants but tissue culture will allow us to produce thousands," Mr Newley 
said.

      "Typical Ladyfinger plants grow to more than three metres high and if 
we can deliver plants which are much shorter it will not only make 
plantation management easier it could also cut production costs."

      The dwarf plants are up to two metres shorter which means growers can 
look after fruit without climbing a long ladder.

      "Dwarf Ladyfingers will make it much easier and safer for growers to 
grow good-sized Ladyfinger bananas.

      "Putting the bag on the bunch, pruning, de-belling plants and 
harvesting will be easier with plants which growers can manage from 
ground-level."

      Bananas NSW funded the propagation of hundreds of dwarf plants which 
are currently being grown at Yarrahapinni Nursery prior to planting in the 
which begins this week as the final part of the trial.

      "We will have the results by harvest time next year - if these plants 
stay short and grow good-sized bananas it will prove tissue culture can be 
used to speed up the propagation process to produce true-to-type dwarf 
Ladyfingers," Mr Newley said.

      "That means the local industry will be able to quickly adopt this new 
shorter and much easier to manage Ladyfinger variety because we will be able 
to produce thousands of dwarf plants in a little less than two years from 
now."

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