Dessert Banana Plant Named “NW02”

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

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

FIG. 8 A-D shows free tepal (A) and compound tepals (B-D) lobes;

FIG. 9 A-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