A variety trial conducted over the past year by the University of Guam Cooperative Extension & Outreach tested five banana varieties — 'Fiji,' 'Blue Java,' 'Macao,' 'Manila,' and 'Saba' — from planting to harvest to identify which types are best suited for commercial production in Guam. The study found that 'Fiji' and 'Saba' would be ideal for expanded production due to their highly marketable qualities, favorable yields, and ability to be sustainably grown without pesticide use.
'Fiji,' originally from Saipan, is an attractive and sweet variety known for its rapid growth, short timeframe from flowering to harvest (about three to four months), and tolerance to local insect pests and diseases. Extension horticulturist Robert F. Bevacqua, who conducted the trial, explained that although Guam consumers currently prefer 'Manila' and 'Macao' bananas, these varieties are slow-growing and highly disease-susceptible. In contrast, 'Fiji' is quick to produce and more disease-tolerant.
'Saba' also performed well in the trial, showing vigorous growth, large fruit size, disease resistance, and resilience to adverse conditions like drought and flooding. The sturdy plant can even serve as a windbreak for other crops, such as papaya. 'Saba,' originally from the Philippines and sometimes called 'Palau' in Guam, has a longer harvest timeframe of about five to six months. It is versatile, serving as both a cooking and dessert banana, and can be eaten raw, boiled, fried as banana lumpia, steamed, or cooked in coconut milk.
Banana Field Day set for May 10
An upcoming Banana Field Day, hosted by UOG Cooperative Extension & Outreach on Saturday, May 10, will offer farmers and gardeners a unique opportunity to acquire a 'Saba' or 'Fiji' banana plant — or one of the other trialed varieties — for their own cultivation.
The event will feature a hands-on workshop focused on banana plant propagation. Participants will learn how to dig up and separate suckers, or pups, from the base of a mother plant. They will gain experience selecting the preferred "sword" suckers, using proper tools and techniques to remove them, and trimming the suckers to prevent transferring insect pests and diseases to new planting sites. Attendees will be able to take a sucker home to plant and grow.
For more information:
University of Guam
Tel: 1-671 735 2944
Email: [email protected]
www.uog.edu