Disease-resistant FHIA bananas. Banana plants are susceptible to serious diseases such as Black Sigatoka and Panama disease. FHIA (Honduran Agricultural Research Foundation; www.honduras.com/fhia/banana.htm) bananas have been bred for disease-resistance. Some of these varieties are described in EDN 59-1. Goldfinger (FHIA-01), for instance, is described as a dessert (eaten fresh vs. cooked) variety able to support 100 lbs (45 kg) of fruit with no propping. Both FHIA-01 and FHIA-03 (a cooking banana) performed well in Honduras and continue to perform well at ECHO. The best source of plants that we know is a Florida-based company called Agristarts (website: www.agristarts.com; phone: 407-889-8055). On their website, click on the tab labeled ‘Musa’ for photos and information on varieties they carry. They sell plants in plug trays; at least ten plants can fit in a container about the size of a shoe box. They do ship internationally, charging $55.00/order for a phytosanitary certificate. After the plants bear fruit, it is likely that one or more of the varieties will be especially popular. If there is great demand but you have only a few trees, what can you do? Fortunately two different techniques have been developed for rapid multiplication of bananas, one in the field and one using a banana corm. See EDN 59, 66, 75, and 99 (re EDN 75-6: note that Dr. Rowe, who had been supplying tiny, tissue cultured plantlets, is no longer living).

ECHO evaluated nine FHIA varieties and two commercial varieties in Haiti. Disease incidence with the two controls ('Gran Nain' and 'Williams') ranged from 56% to 61%, but was much less with the FHIA varieties, ranging from 11 to32%.