Selection and identification of superior banana phenotypes from Turkey.

New banana plantations of Turkey are mostly established with meristem culture-propagated plants because starting materials greatly influence yield and quality in these plantations. This study was conducted to select superior banana clones from Grand Nain, Dwarf Cavendish and Azman cultivars grown in open fields and greenhouses in Turkey. The study also aimed to determine selection efficiency breeding for stem height, number of hands, the number of fruits, bunch weight, fruit weight and fruit length. The selected genotypes exhibited a large variation in yield and related quantitative traits. The genotypes showing the highest yield and quality traits were selected. Although the traits used for selection contributed to selection efficiency, stem height had the greatest contribution. The superior banana clones were found to be stable and could reliably be used in establishment of new banana plantations to increase yield and quality in subtropical conditions in Mediterranean region in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]