Impacts of polyploidy on phenotypic expression in Musa ssp. Progenies

Polyploidy has an immense role in the varietal development of crops particularly fruit crops which significantly impact plant morphological and yield contributing traits. To investigate the evolutionary differences of banana hybrids with different ploidy levels for growth parameters, duration, phonological characters and yield were compared within and between diploid, triploid and tetraploid banana. Forty-nine banana hybrids of different ploidy level bananas were evaluated under field conditions. Stomatal size, pollen size, growth and bunch traits were measured and significant differences between ploidy levels were observed. The “gigas” effect was seen in tetraploid plants. Ploidy levels were negatively linked with stomatal frequency and positively linked with guard cell length and number of chloroplasts per guard cell. Stomatal density was negatively correlated with increased ploidy level. Stomatal size increased in polyploids. Among the progenies, maximum pollen diameter was observed in tetraploids. However, triploids registered higher bunch and finger characters whereas diploids exhibit higher stomata frequency, pollen viability, germination, more suckers per plant, shorter time to phyllochron production, earlier flowering and harvest. Therefore, maximum leaf area and photosynthesis rate per unit leaf area will increase in triploid banana hybrids also affected by ploidal level. It is important component as well as determining the effect on biochemical processes. The results of this study can provide valuable insights into the link between plant architecture and ploidy levels. It is also important for promising breeding strategy to further tailor crops for biomass production.