Dessert Banana Plant Named ‘WW01’

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. 2 A-B shows blotches at the petiole base (A) and a petiole canal leaf (B);

FIGS. 3 A-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. 7 A-C shows bracts of a male bud;

FIGS. 8 A-B shows lopes of compound tepals (A) and free tepals (B);

FIGS. 9 A-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