“THE FRUIT OF HAPPINESS’’

 

Have you ever wondered what the "Fruit of Happiness" is? Yes, they are the bananas!!! Bananas reduce stress and anxiety and lead to positive emotions. Next time you feel anxious or stressed, grab a banana and immediately feel relief. The fruit contains the essential amino acid tryptophan, the main component of serotonin, also known as the "happiness hormone." This chemical is used for communication between nerve cells in the brain. Low levels of serotonin in the brain are one of the main causes of depression caused by stress and anxiety. Serotonin stimulates the nervous system of the brain and makes people feel happy, satisfied, cheerful and calm. 

Introduction 

Tissue cultured bananas are obtained from tissue or cell growth separate from the organism. It is used for mass production of planting materials for seedlings and crops of the highest quality. It is done to increase yield and promote good quality. This technique is performed in a laboratory setup. 

Bananas are classified as desserts and plantains. Nutritional value; high potassium content reduces high blood pressure, has an antacid effect, eliminates harmful bacteria in the stomach and reduces stomach ulcers. Fruit is a source of vitamins such as vitamins B6, C, pantothenic acid, folic acid, niacin, and riboflavin. 

Common banana are varieties Dwarf and Giant Cavendish and Tissue culture varieties are Grand Naine and Williams 

Advantages of using tissue culture seedlings 

• Seedlings grow quickly. 
• No pests or diseases 
• Early maturing
• Higher yield

 Guide for Growing Bananas in Tissue Culture

1. Buy seedlings: Tissue cultured banana seedlings have been shown to be of high quality and disease free.

2. Land Preparation The country must have suitable weather conditions for bananas to grow and thrive. Evenly distributed minimum precipitation of 1000 mm per year, typically from 800 meters above sea level. Due to the high yield of tissue culture bananas, irrigation should be used as a priority.

3. Planting

Tissue culture plantlets are planted in 90 cm x 90 cm x 60 cm pits. Mix well-drained soil with a well-mixed dry fertilizer. Then add fertilizers for the base plant, specifically DAP and the use of nematicides to keep the nematodes away. Then fill the banana core with this mixture and plant the seedlings 30 cm deep into the core.After planting the seedlings, compact the soil so that the roots are firmly attached to the soil. Planting holes should be spaced 3 meters apart. This equates to approximately 450 seedlings per acre.

4. Irrigation

Watering should be done twice a week. Drip irrigation is preferred to avoid a lot of movement on the farm, which can lead to the spread of disease and pests. Dry mulch is placed around the base of the plantlets to prevent water loss through evaporation. need to do it.

5. Pest and disease management

Tissue cultured bananas are generally free of viruses and bacteria. Spray nematicides at planting time to keep nematodes at bay. 

6. De-suckering 

Removing the suckers; it is recommended to de suckering and leave one sucker per hole. 

7. Harvesting

Bananas take 8 to 12 months from planting to being ready for harvest. When the fingers are three-quarters full, they are ready to harvest. A slightly glossy appearance indicates that the bananas are ready for harvest. Banana stalks produce banana bundles weighing up to 95 kilograms. With 450 seedlings per acre, with proper management, the average yield is 35-45 tons per acre.