USPP36098P2 - Dessert banana plant named ‘WH02’ - Google Patents

Abstract

‘WH02’ is a hybrid dessert banana variety with a tall stature, is tolerant to Black Sigatoka, and produces high-quality fruit.

Description

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: This triploid plant has only M. acuminata in its pedigree and is the product of an inter-specific cross between the triploid (AAA) cultivar ‘Williams’ and ‘Highgate’ (‘HG’). Its Latin name is M. acuminata (AAA) group, representing three genomes of this genus and species.

Variety denomination: ‘WH02’.

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 ‘WW01’ (application Ser. No. 18/469,766), “DESSERT BANANA PLANT NAMED ‘NW02’ (application Ser. No. 18/469,776) 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

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new and distinctive hybrid banana variety named ‘WH02’. This new hybrid variety was the result of a field cross performed in 2016 in La Lima Cortés, Honduras, between ‘Williams’ x ‘Highgate’ (‘HG’) (Both unpatented). ‘HG’ is a triploid plant (AAA) susceptible to Black Sigatoka leaf spot disease (Mycosphaerella fijiensis) and Fusarium oxysporum race 1, belonging to the Gros Michel group. ‘Williams’ is a medium-sized triploid plant (AAA) susceptible to Black Sigatoka leaf spot disease and resistant to Fusarium Oxysporum race 1 but susceptible to race 4, belonging to the Cavendish group. ‘Williams’ is one of the most commercialized bananas worldwide; people prefer it for its flavor, aroma, and size. Both banana varieties were selected from a germplasm collection.

‘WH02’ is a triploid hybrid (AAA) created for the genetic improvement of the Gros Michel banana group. This hybrid was selected in 2018 from several first-generation seedlings from the cross between ‘Williams’ x ‘HG’. It was chosen as a triploid hybrid, maintaining characteristics of its parent's lines and producing bunches of 18 kilograms. ‘WH02’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 ‘WH02’ hybrid shares many characteristics with its parent plants, ‘Williams’, and ‘Highgate’. It has a similar leaf shape, plant height, and stem shape. However, the bunch shape is quite different from its parents, and the flavor is slightly altered as well. While ‘Williams’ and ‘Highgate’ are both sweet and have a pleasant flavor, the ‘WHO2’ hybrid is slightly sweeter with a unique taste. Unfortunately, like its parents, it is highly susceptible to black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis), a disease that affects banana plants. It's important to note that this comparison is made in the context of commercial varieties, as ‘Williams’ is one of the most widely commercialized banana varieties in the world and, a parent of this hybrid.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘WH02’ is a hybrid dessert banana variety with a tall stature, is tolerant to Black Sigatoka, and produces high-quality fruit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The figures describe the characteristics of the ‘WH02’ hybrid banana variety at 10.5 months old. 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;

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 leaf 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-B shows compound tepal (A) and free tepals (B) 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

This report provides a thorough botanical description of the new ‘WH02’ variety evaluated in La Lima, Cortés, Honduras, 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 Colour Chart, 2001. The ‘WH02’ plant and its fruit may differ slightly from the descriptors provided due to variations in cultural practices, soil types, and climatic conditions under which the variety may be cultivated.

Leaf habit	Intermediate
Dwarfism	tall
Pseudostem height	≥3 meters
Pseudostem length	2.46 m
Pseudostem diameter	61 cm
Pseudostem aspect	Robust
Pseudostem color	Green (141C, RHS)
Pseudostem appearance	Shiny (not waxy)
The predominant underlying	Yellow-Green (150D, RHS)
color of the pseudostem
Pigmentation of the underlying	Greyed-Purple (187B, RHS)
pseudostem
Sap color	Watery (155D, RHS)
Wax-on leaf sheaths	Very few waxes
Number of suckers	4
Development of suckers	>¾ of the height of the
	parent plant
Position of suckers	Close to parent (vertical
	growth)
Blotches at the petiole base	Small blotches
Blotches color	Grey-Brown (N196A, 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 2 cm
Leaf blade length	171 to 220 cm
Leaf blade width	81 to 90 cm
Petiole length	45 to 50 cm
Color of the leaf's upper	Green (137A, RHS)
Surface
Appearance of leaf upper	Dull
surface
Color of the leaf's lower	Green (N139B, RHS)
surface
Appearance of leaf lower	Dull
surface
Wax on leaves	Few waxes
Insertion point of leaf blade on	Symmetric
petiole
Shape of the leaf blade base	Both sides rounded
Leaf corrugation	Even, smooth
Color of midrib dorsal surface	Green (138B, RHS)
Color of midrib ventral surface	Yellow-Green (145C, RHS)
Color of cigar leaf dorsal	Green (139C, RHS)
surface
Blotches on leaves of water	Without blotches
suckers
Peduncle length	61 to 68 cm
Empty nodes on the peduncle	Two or more
Peduncle width	7-12 cm
Peduncle color	Green (137B, RHS)
Peduncle hairiness	Very hairy, short hairs (similar
	to velvet touch)
Bunch position	Hanging vertically
Bunch shape	Cylindrical
Bunch appearance	Lax
Bunch length	120 cm
Bunch diameter	66 cm
Number of hands of the bunch	12
Flowers that form the fruit	Female
Fruits	Biseriate
Rachis type	Present and male buds may be
	degenerated or persistent.
Rachis position	With a curve
Rachis appearance	Bare
Male bud type	Normal (present)
Male bud shape	Like a top
Male bud size	31 cm
Bract base shape	Large shoulder
Bract apex shape	Pointed
Bract imbrication	Old bracts overlap at the apex
	of the bud.
Color of the bract external face	Greyed-Orange (177D, RHS)
Color of the bract internal ace	Yellow (10D, RHS)
Color of the bract apex	Tinted with yellow (discolored)
	(7C, RHS)
Color stripes on the bract	Without discolored lines or
	stripes 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 discontinuing towards
	the base.
Male bract shape	Ovate
Male bract lifting	Lifting one at a time
Bract behavior before falling	Revolute (Rolling)
Wax on the bract	Moderately waxy
Presence of grooves on the	Moderate
bract
Male flower behavior	Falling after the bract
Compound tepal basic color	White (155C, RHS)
Compound tepal pigmentation	Very few or no visible signs
	of pigmentation
Lobe color of compound tepal	Greyed-Orange (163B, RHS)
Lobe development of	Developed
compound tepal
Free tepal color	Opaque White (155D, RHS)
Free tepal shape	Oval
Free tepal appearance	Simple folding under the apex
Free tepal apex development	Little or no visible sign of
	development
Free tepal apex shape	Thread-like
Anther exsertion	Inserted
Filament color	Greyed-White (156D, RHS)
Anther color	Green-White (157C, RHS)
Pollen sacs color	Greyed-Red (198D, RHS)
Pollen vitality	Medium
Style basic color	Green-White (157C, RHS)
Pigmentation on style	Without pigmentation
Style exsertion	Inserted
Style shape	Curved at the base
Stigma color	Yellow-Orange (14A, RHS)
Ovary shape	Arched
Ovary basic color	Green (142D, RHS)
Ovary pigmentation	Very few or no visible signs
	of pigmentation
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	3.2 cm
Fruit shape (longitudinal	Curved (sharp curve)
curvature)
Color of the flesh of the fruit	Creamy (158C, RHS)
Longitudinal ridges of the	Moderate
fruit
Transverse section of fruit	Slightly ridged
Fruit apex	Blunt-tipped
Remains of flower relicts at	Persistent style
the fruit apex
Fruit pedicel length	21 to 23 mm
Fruit pedicel width	5 to 10 mm
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 (14C, RHS)
Fruit peel thickness	2 to 3 mm
Adherence to the fruit peel	Fruit peels easily
Cracks in fruit peel	Cracked
Pulp in fruit	With pulp
Pulp color before maturity	White (N155D, RHS)
Pulp color at maturity	Yellow-Orange (18B, RHS)
Fruits fall from hands.	Deciduous
Flesh texture	Firm
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	Upright

Claims (1)

The invention claimed is:

1. A new and distinct variety of banana plant named ‘WH02’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Images