INTRODUCTION
Basal hands of a banana bunch are often larger in

size than the terminal hands. These are usually discarded
or sold as third quality fruits in the market. Thus, at least
two or three hands in a bunch fail to reach the finger quality
standards required for the specialized markets thereby
reducing income to the producers. Dehanding consists of
removing two or three terminal hands of each bunch and is
a routine practice in banana production system for export.
By removing the terminal hands, it may be expected that
dry matter would be redistributed among the remaining
hands of the bunch thus helping to increase the size of the
remaining hands (Rodriguez et al, 1988). Keeping the above
aspects in view the present investigation was carried out.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The experiment was conducted in the Research

Station of All India Coordinated Research Project on
Tropical Fruits at Mondouri of Bidhan Chandra Krishi
Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal on the
dessert cultivar, Martaman (Musa AAB). One hundred and
twenty four (124) plants of cv. Martaman spaced at 1.8 m ´
1.8 m were selected for bunch trimming with three
replications laid out in augmented 2 factor factorial CRD.
The experiment consisted of different intensities of hand
removal viz. 1, 2, or 3 hands (H

1
, H

2
 and H

3
 respectively)

and time of hand removal viz. immediately after opening
of hand, one week after opening of last hand, two weeks
after opening of last hand (T

1
, T

2
, T

3
 respectively) along

Effect of bunch-trimming on yield and quality in banana

M. A. Hasan, R. Ray Chowdhury, S. Sarkar and S. Mathew
Department of Fruits and Orchard Management

Faculty of Horticulture, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Mohanpur, Nadia-741252, India
E-mail:mdahasan@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The experiment consisted of different intensities of hand removal viz. 1,2 and 3 hands (H
1
, H

2
 and H

3

respectively) and time of hand removal i.e., immediately after opening of last hand (T
1
), one week after opening

of last hand (T
2
), and two weeks after opening of last hand (T

3
).  Results were statistically analysed using

augmented 2 factor factorial CRD. The time of hand removal did not show any significant difference on yield
while hand weight, finger weight, finger length, finger diameter and volume of finger  increased with the increase
in number of hands removed. It is suggested that removal of three hands between one and two weeks after
opening of last hand is beneficial for improving yield and finger quality of banana cv. Martaman (Musa AAB).

Key words: Banana (Musa AAB) , bunch trimming, production, quality

with control. Allocation of bunch trimming treatments were
done on the bunches which had opened on the same day
with uniform length, finger size and having nine hands.
The floral remnants and male buds were removed.
Observations on yield, hand weight, finger weight, finger
volume, finger density, pulp weight, peel weight, pulp/peel
ratio, pulp thickness, peel thickness, TSS, sugar and acidity
were recorded. For statistical analysis, Principal Component
Analysis was followed, based on correlation matrix.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
It was evident that hand removal had significant

effect on bunch weight, yield, hand weight, finger weight,
finger length, diameter, pulp weight, peel weight, pulp
thickness, peel thickness, total sugar, reducing and non-
reducing sugar, acidity and TSS/acid ratio. The highest bunch
weight of 14.95 kg was recorded with removal of one hand
(H

1
). Time of hand removal and interaction effect of number

of hands removed and time of hand removal
(H ´ T) significantly affected bunch weight. Bunch weight
of 15.14 kg was recorded with removal of one hand after
one week of opening of last hand (H

1
T

2
) followed by removal

of one hand after two weeks of opening of last hand (H
1
T

3
)

and immediately after opening of last hand (H1T1).

However, the untrimmed plants yielded a maximum
bunch yield of 15.20 kg as compared to trimmed bunches.
Among the various intensities of hand removal, one hand
removal (H

1
) showed yield of 46.14 t/ha. The time of hand

removal did not show any significant difference on yield

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 159-161, 2007

Short communication

159



160

although hand weight, finger weight, finger length, finger
diameter and volume of finger increased with the increase in
number of hands removed. Increase in fruit weight due to
dehanding might be due to higher rate of fruit filling because
of reduction in sink size (Jullien et al, 2001). Removal of
one hand showed highest finger density of 0.969 g/cc. On
the contrary, pulp weight, peel weight, pulp thickness, total
sugar and reducing sugar improved significantly with the
increasing intensity of hand removal. But in case of acidity
content and TSS/acid ratio, the data showed a reverse pattern

i.e., removal of one hand (H
1
) produced fruits having lowest

acidity (0.482%) and higher TSS/acid ratio (38.24)
compared to two hands (H

2
) and three hands (H

3
) removal.

Hand removal after two weeks of opening of last
hand produced maximum hand weight (1.909 kg), finger
weight (149.43 g), finger length (12.0 cm), pulp: peel ratio
(3.06) and also the sugar content of fruit.  Finger diameter
(4.18 cm), finger volume (154.23 cc), density of finger
(0.969 g/cc), pulp weight (112.169), peel weight (37.27
g) and pulp thickness (3.91 cm) were higher in T

2

Table 1. Effect of intensity and time of hand removal on bunch characters

Treatment Weight of bunch (kg) Yield (t/ha) Weight of hand (kg) Weight of finger (g)
Number of hand removal (H)

H
1

14.95 46.14 1.821 141.99
H

2
13.17 40.63 1.833 145.33

H
3

12.75 39.36 2.002 153.27
S.Em (±) 0.168 0.518 0.004 0.592

CD (P=0.05) 0.496 1.528 0.012 1.746
Time of hand removal (T)

T
1

13.61 41.99 1.862 144.85
T

2
13.63 42.06 1.885 149.43

T
3

13.64 42.08 1.909 146.30
S.Em (±) 0.168 0.518 0.004 0.592

CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS 1.746
Treatment Length of finger Diameter Volume Density

(cm) of finger (cm) of finger (cc)  of finger (g/cc)
Number of hand removal (H)

H
1

11.74 4.02 146.6 0.969
H

2
11.89 4.11 150.60 0.965

H
3

12.20 4.25 158.17 0.968
S.Em (±) 0.038 0.034 0.559 0.001

CD (P=0.05) 0.112 0.100 1.649 0.003
Time of hand removal (T)

T
1

11.86 4.09 150.02 0.965
T

2
11.96 4.18 154.23 0.969

T
3

12.00 4.11 151.13 0.967
S.Em (±) 0.038 0.034 0.559 0.001

CD (P=0.05) 0.112 NS 1.649 0.003
Treatment Total soluble solids Total sugar (%) Reducing sugar Non-reducing Acidity TSS: Acidity

 (0birx) (%) sugar (%)  (%)  ratio
Number of hand removal (H)

H
1

18.35 16.29 8.25 7.63 0.482 38.24
H

2
18.36 16.44 8.62 7.43 0.494 37.15

H
3

18.33 16.78 8.83 7.55 0.527 34.75
S.Em (±) 0.041 0.009 0.007 0.01 0.003 0.183

CD (P=0.05) NS 0.027 0.021 0.029 0.009 0.540
Time of hand removal (T)

T
1

18.35 16.38 8.49 7.49 0.486 37.93
T

2
18.34 16.46 8.55 7.51 0.504 36.41

T
3

18.34 16.67 8.66 7.61 0.513 35.80
S.Em (±) 0.041 0.009 0.007 0.010 0.003 0.183

CD (P=0.05)
Control vs Rest

S.Em (±) 0.137 0.031 0.025 0.036 0.010 0.645
CD (P=0.05) 0.286 0.065 0.052 0.075 0.021 1.345

Note: H
1
= Removal of one hand, H

2
 = Removal of two hands and H

3 
= Removal of three hands; T

1
 =- Removal of hand (s) immediately after opening

of last hand, T
2
 = Removal of hand (s) one week after opening of last hand, and T

3
 = Removal of hand (s) two weeks after opening of last hand

Hasan et al

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 159-161, 2007



161

treatment. Time of hand removal did not show any
significant variation in TSS content.

Interaction effect of number of hand removal and
time of hand removal significantly affected bunch weight,
hand weight, finger weight, finger length, finger diameter,
finger volume, density of finger, pulp weight, peel weight,
pulp: peel ratio, pulp thickness, TSS, total sugar, reducing
sugar and TSS/acid ratio. In respect of bunch weight and
yield the untrimmed bunches yielded maximum. This result
is supported by the findings of Irizarry et al (1992) who
reported that three hands removal reduced total yield.
Mandal and Sharma (2000) also reported that removal of
1, 2 and 3 lower hands reduced yield by 9, 12.7 and 17.4%,
respectively in cultivar Alpan. Removal of three hands after
two weeks of opening of last hand (H

3
T

3
) produced fruits

with maximum hand weight (2.020 kg) followed by H
3
T

1
.

Removal of the hands after one week of opening of last
hand (H

3
T

2
) recorded maximum finger weight (156.33)

followed by H
3
T

3
 and H

3
T

1
 treatments. Control plants

yielded the lowest finger weight (119.09 gm) as compared
to treatment of hand removal irrespective of its time of
removal. H

3
T

3
 also produced fruits with maximum length

(12.33 cm), finger diameter (4.28 cm), pulp: peel ratio
(3.15), and pulp thickness (4.01 cm). Arcila et al (2002)
found that longer size fruit was attained with hand tear off
at 20 days after flowering and leaving 4-6 hands per bunch
in banana hybrid FHIA-21. Removal of three hands after
one week of opening of last hand (H

3
T

2
) produced fruits

with maximum volume (160.93 cc) closely followed by
H

3
T

3
. The same interaction (H

3
T

2
) proved beneficial in

respect of density of finger and also pulp weight. Total sugar
content was highest (16.85) in H

3
T

2
 interaction. In respect

of TSS : acid ratio, H
1
T

1
 i.e., removal of one hand

immediately after opening of last hand proved to be the
best.  Loss of biomass was partially compensated by
increasing fruit weight, length and circumference.
Treatments of hand removal at different time increased fruit
weight, length and diameter through redistribution of dry
matter content by reducing competition for photosynthate
among the different hands.

REFERENCES
Arcila, M. I., Valencia, J. A., Bclalcazar Carvajal, S. and

Morales, Osorno, H. 2002. Effect of tear off on the
quality and production of the hybrid of plantain
‘FHIA-21’. AUGURA, pp.446-449

Irizarry, H., Rivera, E. and Rodriguez, J. A.1992. Bunch
and ratoon management for profitable production of
high quality bananas. J. Agri. Univ. Puerto Rico,
76:119-129

Jullien, A., Munier, Jolian, N. G.; Malezieux, E.; Chillet, M.
and Ney, B. 2001. Effect of pulp cell number and
assimilate availability on dry matter accumulation rate
in a banana fruit (Musa sp. AAA Group “Grande Naine”
(Cavendish sub group) Annals Bot., 88:321-330

Mandal, B. K. and Sharma, S. B.2000. Productivity of banana
(cv. Alpan) as influenced by removal of terminal hands
from the bunch. Orissa J. Hort., 28:46-50

Rodriguez, J. A., Irizarry, H. and Rivera, E. 1988. Effect of
bunch trimming on yield and quality of plantains (M.
acuminata X M. balbisiana, AAB). Asociacion de
Bananeros de Uraba, pp.537-541

Table 2. Effect of intensity and time of hand removal and their interaction on finger parameters

Treatment Weight of pulp (g) Weight of peel (g) Pulp : Peel ratio Pulp thickness (cm) Peel thickness (cm)

Number of hand removal (H)
H

1
105.88 36.11 2.94 3.73 0.271

H
2

109.05 36.28 3.01 3.83 0.273
H

3
115.87 37.15 3.12 3.98 0.269

S.Em (±) 0.410 0.709 0.066 0.034 0.004
CD (P=0.05) 1.209 NS NS 0.100 NS

Time of hand removal (T)
T

1
108.59 36.26 3.00 3.81 0.275

T
2

112.16 37.27 3.01 3.91 0.270
T

3
110.05 36.00 3.06 3.82 0.269

S.Em (±) 0.410 0.709 0.066 0.034 0.004
CD (P=0.05) 1.209 NS NS NS NS

Control vs Rest
S.Em (±) 1.427 2.393 0.222 0.120 0.014

CD (P=0.05) 2.977 4.992 NS 0.250 0.029

Note:H
1
= Removal of one hand, H

2
 = Removal of two hands and H

3 
= Removal of three hands; T

1
 =- Removal of hand (s) immediately after opening

of last hand, T
2
 = Removal of hand (s) one week after opening of last hand, and T

3
 = Removal of hand (s) two weeks after opening of last hand

(MS Received 16 July 2007, Revised 1 October 2007)

Bunch-trimming in banana

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 159-161, 2007