Banana Choke Throat is a complex physiological disorder affecting Banana crops’ productivity and profitability. Banana Choke Throat is a physiological disorder affecting Banana crops, causing them to produce low quality and quantity yields. Effective management of Choke Throat in Banana crops is a significant challenge for farmers, as it needs constant monitoring and efforts to tackle the problem.
Strategies proposed to manage the effects of Choke Throat include cultural practices, such as shelterbelts and windbreaks. However, their effectiveness may depend on the specific conditions of the crop and the variety of bananas grown. Choke Throat is a significant concern for banana growers and exporters as it can lead to significant financial losses.
It is, therefore, crucial to understand the disorder’s underlying mechanisms and identify effective management strategies to mitigate its impact. This article provides an overview and discussion of Choke Throat, including its symptoms, causes, and management strategies, to aid in sustainable banana production, effective control, and prevention of this physiological disorder in banana crops, ensuring profitable returns from this crop.
Banana Choke Throat and Chilling Injury Disorders Management
Characteristics of Banana Choke Throat Disorder
- The Banana Choke Throat physiological disorder is a post-harvest disorder that affects the fruit’s quality, causing it to develop brownish, hard, and corky tissue around the core of the fruit.
- The distal part of the inflorescence comes out of the pseudostem, but the basal part becomes pointed at the throat and does not emerge properly, causing the choking symptom.
- This disorder is characterized by the appearance of dry and fibrous tissue in the central part of the fruit, leading to the choking of the fruit’s throat and rendering it inedible.
- The disorder is primarily located around the core of the fruit and affects the edible part of the banana.
- It usually appears during transportation or storage, making the affected fruit unsuitable for export.
- The size and shape of the affected fruit remain the same as the healthy ones, but the internal structure of the fruit is severely damaged.
- The affected fruit may also exhibit uneven ripening, with some parts remaining green while others turn yellow.
- The yield of the affected plants is significantly reduced, with some farmers experiencing losses of up to 70%.
- The disorder usually appears two to three weeks after the fruit is harvested and stored.
Causes of Banana Choke Throat Disorder Development
- Extreme high and low temperatures can cause tissue damage, leading to the development of the disorder.
- High humidity can lead to the development of fungal infections, which can cause tissue damage and trigger the onset of this disorder.
- The deficiency of essential nutrients, such as calcium and boron, can lead to the development of this disorder, with calcium deficiency being the most reported nutrient deficiency in banana crops.
- Improper post-harvest handling of fruits harvested at an immature stage or subjected to mechanical injuries during harvesting, transportation, and storage are more susceptible.
- The disorder can also be caused by genetic factors, with some banana cultivars being more suscepti