Heat requirement and number of days between flowering and harvest for banana ‘grande naine’ in subtropical conditions

The objective of this research was to determine the thermal requirement in degrees-days and the number of days between flowering and haverst for the banana ‘Grande Naine’ in subtropical conditions, in the region of Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Banana plants that had inflorescence in the initial stage were identified in the first fortnight of every month, from December 2011 to February 2013. The sum of degree-days was calculated considering the basal temperature of 14°C. The thermal sum and the time required to complete the development of the bunch in the phenological stage between flowering and harvesting, ranged from 673 to 1001 degrees-days and from 92 to 164 days, respectively. This study indicates the need to develop methods for programming harvest and management technologies to minimize the damage to the fruits of plants with flowering from March to August in the studied region.