New Banana Cultivars Trial in the Coastal Plain of South Georgia

Scientists at the University of Georgia have been conducting research on the potential of banana production at the Bamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens, Savannah, since 2003. Banana research has now been extended and for the first time is being carried out at the University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tifton Campus, located in the south-central part of the state in a more temperate climatic zone. The State of Georgia pro­duces many fruits such as apples, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes and peaches, but banana has never been considered an economic crop due to unfavorable weather conditions, which has rendered the U.S. a net importer of this nutritionally important crop. In Tifton, 63 different cultivars obtained from three different sources-Belgium, Puerto Rico, and Florida-were planted in an experiment using a randomized complete block design. The principal objective is to evaluate which of these cultivars will be suitable for fruit production under Tifton weather conditions. All aspects of agricultural production will be investigated and good agricultural practices (GAP) will be developed to facilitate production of this important fruit crop.