Relationship Between the Morphometric and Nutritional Variables of Bananas (Musa AAA, Cavendish cv. Williams Subgroup) and the Formation of Maturity Bronzing

Bananas (Musa AAA) can be affected by maturity bronzing, a physiological disorder that appears in the form of bronzing on the fruit’s epidermis, compromising its quality and generating economic losses due to commercial rejection. Since the symptoms are only evidenced at harvest, it is necessary to identify the associated factors in order to develop preventive strategies. This research analyzed morphometric and nutritional characteristics potentially related to the formation of stains on two banana-exporting farms in Antioquia and Magdalena (Colombia). Monitoring plots were established, in which 310 productive units with the banana Cavendish cv. Williams subgroup were evaluated over 52 weeks. In all units, the height, the pseudostem perimeter, the weight and number of hands of the bunch, and the weight of the affected fruit were recorded. In addition, foliar and soil analyses were conducted in each production unit, and some climatic components were characterized. Through a multiple logistic regression model, it was observed that a pseudostem perimeter smaller than 70 cm (measured 50 cm from the base), together with foliar B and Zn concentrations below 100 and 25 mg/kg, respectively, was associated with a higher probability of bronzing formation. These values should be interpreted as preliminary associations derived under specific conditions, and therefore as requiring validation across different contexts and management systems, before being considered as reference parameters. These findings provide new factors associated with maturity bronzing and open opportunities for future research aimed at its prevention.