Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: This tetraploid plant has only Musa acuminata in its pedigree and is the product of an inter-specific cross between triploid (AAA) plants of the same cultivar. The Latin name of ‘WW01’ is M. acuminata, tetraploid (AAAA), representing four genomes of this genus and species.
Variety denomination:
‘WW01’.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is co-pending with the following additional applications by the same inventor: “DESSERT BANANA PLANT NAMED ‘SH-4199’” (application Ser. No. 18/469,772); “DESSERT BANANA PLANT NAMED ‘NW02’” (application Ser. No. 18/469,776); “DESSERT BANANA PLANT NAMED ‘WH02’” (application Ser. No. 18/469,781); and “DESSERT BANANA PLANT NAMED ‘HG07’” (application Ser. No. 18/469,787). The plants of these applications, as well as the plant of the present application, were created in the banana breeding program of Applicant/Owner/Assignee, FHIA.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new and distinctive hybrid banana variety named ‘WW01’. This new hybrid variety was the result of a field cross performed in 2016 in La Lima Cortés, Honduras, between ‘Williams’ x ‘Williams’ (Both unpatented). ‘Williams’ is a medium-sized triploid plant (AAA) susceptible to Black Sigatoka leaf spot disease (Mycosphaerella fijiensis), belonging to the Cavendish group. ‘Williams’ is one of the most commercialized bananas worldwide; people prefer it for its flavor, aroma, and size. This banana was selected from a germplasm collection.
‘WW01’ is a tetraploid hybrid (AAAA) created for the genetic improvement of the Cavendish group banana. This hybrid was selected in 2018 from several first-generation seedlings from the cross between ‘Williams’ x ‘Williams.’ It was chosen as a tetraploid hybrid maintaining the “Cavendish type” stature of its female parental line and producing bunches of 20 kilograms with fruits of the same quality as its parents. ‘WW01’ was asexually reproduced by corms by the breeder in La Lima Cortes, Honduras. All plants and fruit run true to the initially selected plant and are identical in all aspects.
The hybrid ‘WW01’ has the same plant as male and female (‘Williams’). Its characteristics of plant height, type of leaves, type of stem, and number of offspring are like those of its parents. However, the stem color, bunch type, and taste are different. The ‘WW01’ hybrid has not inherited the delightful flavor that the ‘Williams’ variety, belonging to the Cavendish subgroup, is known for. This hybrid has lush foliage, which appears to be more resistant to black Sigatoka than its parents. These comparisons are valid when comparing commercial varieties known to the Inventor because the ‘Williams’ variety is one of the most commercialized in the world.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The ‘WW01’ is a hybrid dessert banana variety with a medium-sized stature, is tolerant to Black Sigatoka, and produces high-quality fruit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS The figures describe the characteristics of the ‘WW01’ hybrid banana variety. The color shown in the photographs is as nearly accurate as reasonably possible in this type's color representation.
FIG. 1 shows the typical appearance of a plant at ten (10) months old;
FIGS. 2A-B shows blotches at the petiole base (A) and a petiole canal leaf (B);
FIGS. 3A-C shows the shape of a leaf blade base (A) and leaf upper (B) and leaf lower (C) surfaces;
FIG. 4 shows typical suckers;
FIG. 5 shows a typical fruit bunch;
FIG. 6 shows a male bud;
FIGS. 7A-C shows bracts of a male bud;
FIGS. 8A-B shows lopes of compound tepals (A) and free tepals (B);
FIGS. 9A-B shows style shape (A) and ovary (B);
FIG. 10 shows a male flower;
FIG. 11 shows rowed ovules; and
FIG. 12 shows a typical second hand.
DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety ‘WW01’. The report is from ten-month old plants in La Lima, Cortés, Honduras that were evaluated in 2023. The descriptions concord with the internationally standardized “Descriptors for Banana (Musa spp.)” elaborated by IPGRI/INIBAP/CIRAD, 1996 (www.inibap.org), and The U.K.'s Royal Horticultural Society's Color Chart, 2001. The ‘WW01’ plant and its fruit may vary slightly from the detailed descriptors shown below due to cultural practices, soil types, and climatic conditions under which the variety may be cultivated.
Leaf habit Drooping
Dwarfism Not shown
Pseudostem length 2.60 meters
Pseudostem width 63 cm
Pseudostem height 2.1 to 2.9 meters
Pseudostem aspect Robust
Pseudostem color Green (143C, RHS)
Pseudostem appearance Shiny (Not waxy)
The predominant underlying Green (142D, RHS)
color of the pseudostem
Pigmentation of the underlying Brown (N200A, RHS)
pseudostem
Sap color Milky (150D, RHS)
Wax-on leaf sheaths Moderately wax
Number of suckers 3 to 5
Development of suckers Very good
Position of suckers Close to parent (vertical growth)
Blotches at the petiole base Extensive pigmentation
Blotches color Brown (200B, RHS)
Petiole canal leaf III Wide with erect margins
Petiole margins Winged and not clasping the
pseudostem
Wing type Dry
Entire Petiole color Greyed-purple (187D, RHS)
Petiole margin color Greyed-purple (187D, RHS)
Edge of petiole margin Robust and Greyed-purple
color (187D, RHS)
Petiole margin width 1 to 2 cm
Leaf blade length 171 to 220 cm
Leaf blade width 71 to 80 cm
Petiole length 40 to 50 cm
Color of the leaf's upper Surface Green (139A, RHS)
Appearance of leaf upper surface Shiny
Color of the leaf's lower surface Green (139B, RHS)
The appearance of the leaf's Dull
lower surface
Leaf shape Oval-elongated
Leaf apex Obtuse
Leaf margin Entire
Wax on leaves Few waxes
The insertion point of the leaf Symmetric
blade on the petiole
The shape of the leaf blade base Both sides rounded
Leaf corrugation Even, smooth
Color of midrib dorsal surface Green (139C, RHS)
Color of midrib ventral surface Greyed-green (191B, RHS)
Color of cigar leaf dorsal surface Yellow-green (144B, RHS)
Blotches on leaves of water Without blotches
suckers
Peduncle length 61 to 70 cm
Empty nodes on the peduncle Two or more
Peduncle width 7-12 cm
Peduncle color Green (139C, RHS)
Peduncle hairiness Very hair, short hairs
(similar to velvet touch)
Number of hands per bunch 12
Bunch length 60 cm
Bunch diameter 76 cm
Bunch position Slightly angled
Bunch shape Cylindrical
Bunch appearance Compact
Flowers that form the fruit Female
Fruits Biseriate
Rachis type Present and male buds may be
degenerated or persistent
Rachis position Failing vertically
Rachis appearance Bare
Male bud type Normal (present)
Male bud shape Ovoid
Male bud size Length: 28 cm and diameter
18 cm (at the widest section)
Bract base shape Large shoulder
Bract apex shape Ovoid
Bract imbrication Young bracts considerably
overlap.
Color of the bract external face Purple (N79A, RHS)
Color of the bract internal ace Red-purple (59B, RHS)
Color of the bract apex Tinted with yellow (discolored)
(154D, RHS)
Color stripes on the bract Without discolored lines
(not ridges) on the external face
Bract scars on rachis Very prominent
Persistence of the bracts of the Moderate
rachis
Fading of color on bract base Color homogenous
Male bract shape Ovate
Male bract lifting Lifting one at a time
Bract behavior before falling Revolute (Rolling)
Wax on the bract Moderately wax
Presence of grooves on the bract Moderate
Male flower behavior Falling before the bract
Compound tepals per flower 6
Compound tepal shape Oval-elongated
Upper compound tepal basic White (155C, RHS)
color
Lower compound tepal color Yellow-orange (19D, RHS)
Compound tepal length 4.5 cm
Compound tepal width 1.8 cm
Compound tepal pigmentation Very few or no visible signs of
pigmentation; pigmentation color
which is present is yellow-orange
(20D, RHS)
Upper lobe color of compound Yellow (13B, RHS)
tepal
Lower lobe color of compound Yellow (13D, RHS)
tepal
Lobe development of compound Developed
tepal
Free tepal color Opaque White (155D, RHS)
Free tepal shape Oval
Free tepal appearance Several folding under apex
(corrugated)
Free tepal apex development Little or no visible sign of
development
Free tepal apex shape Thread-like
Anther exertion Inserted
Filament color Greyed-white (156B, RHS)
Anther color Greyed-white (156C, RHS)
Pollen sacs color Grey-brown (199D, RHS)
Pollen vitality Abundant
Style basic color Greyed-green (198D, RHS)
Pigmentation on style Without pigmentation
Style exertion Inserted
Style shape Straight
Stigma color Green-white (20B, RHS)
Ovary shape Arched
Ovary basic color Green-white (157C, RHS)
Ovary pigmentation Very few or no visible sign of
pigmentation; pigmentation
color which is present is light
green (149B, RHS)
The dominant color of male White (155C, RHS)
flower
Irregular flowers Absent
Arrangement of ovules Two rowed
Fruit position Parallel to the stalk
Number of fruits 17 to 20
Fruit length 13 to 15 cm
Fruit width 3.5 cm
Fruit shape (longitudinal Curved (sharp curve)
curvature)
Color of the flesh of the fruit Yellow (9A, RHS)
Longitudinal ridges of the fruit Moderate
Transverse section of fruit Rounded
Fruit apex Bottle-necked
Remains of flower relicts at the Persistent style
fruit apex
Fruit pedicel length 11 to 20 mm
Fruit pedicel width 10 to 12 mm
Fruit pedicel color Yellow-green (148A, RHS)
Pedicel surface Hairy
Fusion of pedicel Very partially or no
visible sign of fusion
Immature fruit peel color Green (141D, RHS)
Mature fruit peel color Yellow-orange (17B, RHS)
Fruit peel thickness 1.5 to 2 mm
Adherence to the fruit peel Fruit peels easily
Cracks in fruit peel Cracked
Pulp in fruit With pulp
Pulp color before maturity Greyed-white (156C, RHS)
Pulp color at maturity White (155A, RHS)
Fruits fall from hands. Persistent
Flesh texture Firm
Predominant taste Mild, slightly tasty, or tasteless
Presence of seed with the source <5
of pollen
Seed surface Smooth
Seed shape Globular (spherical)
Seed color Greyed-green (N189B, RHS)
Growth habit of the plant Upright
