Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: This tetraploid plant has only M. acuminata in its pedigree. This tetraploid hybrid is a product of an inter-specific cross between two triploid (AAA) cultivars. Its Latin name is M. acuminata representing four genomes (AAAA) of this genus and species.
Variety denomination: ‘NW02’.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and distinctive hybrid banana variety named ‘NW02’. This new hybrid variety was the result of a field cross performed in 2016 in La Lima Cortés, Honduras, between ‘Novak’ used as a female and ‘Williams’ used as a male (Both unpatented). ‘Novak’ is a medium-sized triploid plant (AAA) cavendish type. ‘Williams’ is a medium to tall plant and is a cultivar of the Giant Cavendish type in the Cavendish Subgroup. It is one of the most widely grown cultivars in commercial plantations. Both parents are resistant to Fusarium oxysporum races one but susceptible to Race 4; furthermore, they are susceptible to the Black Sigatoka leaf spot (Mycosphaerella fijiensis).
Both parents were selected from a germplasm collection and are among the most traded bananas worldwide. ‘NW02’ is a Cavendish tetraploid (AAAA) created especially for the genetic improvement of the Cavendish group.
‘NW02’ was selected in 2018 from several first-generation seedlings from the cross between ‘Novak’ and ‘Williams’. It was chosen as a tetraploid hybrid different from the “Cavendish type” stature but maintaining the taste of its parental lines and producing bunches of 12 kilograms with fruits shaped differently from their Cavendish parents. ‘NW02’ 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 fruits of the ‘NW02’ variety have a flavor that is like that of its parent plants, ‘Novak’, and ‘Williams’. The leaves of ‘NW02’ also share the same shape, and the pseudostem has the same color as its parents. However, there are noticeable differences between them. For instance, ‘NW02’ is a short plant, unlike ‘Novak’ and ‘Williams’, which are medium-sized plants. Additionally, the bunch size and finger shape of the ‘NW02’ variety are smaller when compared to its parents. It's important to note that these comparisons are made with reference to a standard variety, as one of the relatives of ‘NW02’ (‘Williams’) is the world's most produced and marketed commercial variety.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘NW02’ is a hybrid dessert banana variety with a dwarf stature and produces small bunches with high-quality fruit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS The figures describe the characteristics of the ‘NW02’ 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;
FIG. 2A-B shows blotches at the petiole base (A) and a petiole canal leaf (B);
FIG. 3A-C shows the shape of a leaf blade base (A) and leaf upper (B) and lower (C) surfaces;
FIG. 4 shows typical suckers;
FIG. 5 shows a typical fruit bunch;
FIG. 6 shows a male bud;
FIG. 7A-C shows bracts of a male bud;
FIG. 8A-D shows free tepal (A) and compound tepals (B-D) lobes;
FIG. 9A-B shows style shape (A) and ovary (B);
FIG. 10 shows a typical 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 ‘NW02’. The report is from plants located in La Lima, Cortés, Honduras, evaluated in 2023. The descriptions concord with the internationally standardized “Descriptors for Banana (Musa spp.)” elaborated by IPGRI/INIBAP/CIRAD, 1996, and the U.K.'s Royal Horticultural Society's Color Chart, 2001. The ‘NW02’ 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 Intermediate
Dwarfism Dwarf type
Pseudostem length 1.07 meters
Pseudostem diameter 0.47 meters
Pseudostem height 1.5 to 2 meters
Pseudostem aspect Normal
Pseudostem color Green (146D, RHS)
Pseudostem appearance Dull
The predominant underlying Orange (27D, RHS)
color of the pseudostem
Pigmentation of the underlying Red (51B, RHS)
pseudostem
Sap color Watery (157D, RHS)
Wax-on leaf sheaths Moderately waxy
Number of suckers 3
Development of suckers >¼ and <¾ of the height
of the parent plant
Position of suckers Close to parent (vertical growth)
Blotches at the petiole base Sparse blotching
Blotches color Greyed-Brown (N199A, RHS)
Petiole canal leaf III Wide with erect margins
Petiole margins Winged and clasping the
pseudostem
Wing type Dry
Petiole margin color Without color
Edge of petiole margin Colourless (Without a color
line along)
Petiole margin width 1 to 3 cm
Leaf blade length 150 to 170 cm
Leaf blade width 50 to 70 cm
Petiole length 40 to 50 cm
Color of the leaf's upper Surface Green (137A, RHS)
Appearance of leaf upper surface Dull
Color of the leaf's lower surface Green (N138B, RHS)
The appearance of the leaf's Dull
lower surface
Wax on leaves Very waxy
The insertion point of the Symmetric
leaf blade on the petiole
The shape of the leaf blade base Both sides rounded
Leaf corrugation Even, smooth
Color of midrib dorsal surface Green (143B, RHS)
Color of midrib ventral surface Green (136D, RHS)
Color of cigar leaf dorsal surface Yellow-Green (147D, RHS)
Blotches on leaves of water Without blotches
suckers
Peduncle length 20 to 30 cm
Empty nodes on the peduncle One
Peduncle width 4 to 6 cm
Peduncle color Green (141B, RHS)
Peduncle hairiness Very hairy, short hairs
(similar to velvet touch)
Bunch length 51 cm
Bunch diameter 57 cm
Number of hands per bunch 8
Bunch position Horizontal
Bunch shape Cylindrical
Bunch appearance Lax
Flowers that form the fruit Female
Fruits Biseriate
Rachis type Present and male buds may be
degenerated or persistent
Rachis position At an angle
Rachis appearance Male flowers/bracts above
the male bud
Male bud type Normal (present)
Male bud shape Like a top
Male bud size 21 to 30 cm
Bract base shape Large shoulder
Bract apex shape Intermediate
Bract imbrication Young bracts considerably
overlap.
Color of the bract external face Red-Purple (59A, RHS)
Color of the bract internal ace Red-Purple (59C, RHS)
Color of the bract apex Tinted with yellow
(discolored) (7C, 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 Moderate
the rachis
Fading of color on bract base Color discontinuing towards
the base.
Male bract shape Ovate
Male bract lifting Not Lifting from male bud
(bracts are persistent)
Bract behavior before falling Revolute (Rolling)
Wax on the bract Very few waxes
Presence of grooves on the bract Moderate
Male flower behavior Neutral/male flowers are
persistent.
Compound tepal basic color Greyed-Orange (166A, RHS)
Compound tepal pigmentation Rust-colored spots (79A, RHS)
Lobe color of compound tepal Yellow (2B, RHS)
Lobe development of compound Developed
tepal
Free tepal color Opaque White (155D, RHS)
Free tepal shape Rectangular
Free tepal appearance Simple folding under the apex
Free tepal apex development Developed
Free tepal apex shape Triangular
Anther exertion Inserted
Filament color Greyed-White (156D, RHS)
Anther color Green-White (157C, RHS)
Pollen sac color White-cream (1C, RHS)
Pollen vitality Abundant
Style basic color Green-White (157C, RHS)
Pigmentation on style Without pigmentation
Style exertion Inserted
Style shape Curved under stigma
Stigma color Greyed-Orange (167D, RHS)
Ovary shape Straight
Ovary basic color White (155C, RHS)
Ovary pigmentation Very few or no visible signs
of pigmentation
The dominant color of male White 155C, RHS)
flower
Irregular flowers Absent
Arrangement of ovules Two rowed
Fruit position Perpendicular to the stalk
Number of fruits 9 to 12
Fruit length 12 to 15 cm
Fruit width (finger) 2.5 to 3 cm
Fruit shape (longitudinal Straight in the distal part
curvature)
Color of the flesh of the fruit Creamy (158C, HRS)
Longitudinal ridges of the fruit moderate
Transverse section of fruit Rounded
Fruit apex Bottle-necked
Remains of flower relicts Persistent style
at the fruit apex
Fruit pedicel length 7 to 10 mm
Fruit pedicel width 3 to 5 mm
Pedicel surface Hairless
Fusion of pedicel Very partially or no visible
sign of fusion
Immature fruit peel color Yellow-Green (144C, RHS)
Mature fruit peel color Yellow (9B, RHS)
Fruit peel thickness 1.5 to 2 mm
Adherence to the fruit peel Fruit peels easily
Cracks in fruit peel Without Cracks
Pulp in fruit With pulp
Pulp color before maturity White (155B, RHS)
Pulp color at maturity Yellow-White (158A, RHS)
Fruits fall from hands. Deciduous
Flesh texture Soft
Predominant taste Sweet (like Cavendish)
Presence of seed with the Without seeds
source of pollen
Seed surface Without seeds
Seed shape Without seeds
Growth habit of the plant Spreading
