AAcv Rose:

Type of material: Landrace

ITC number: 0712

Tolerance to pests and diseases:

This variety seems to be tolerant to most of the pests and diseases, except to Sigatoka, which is not very severe in Kagera region due to its altitude (1,130-1,700m). AAcv Rose has a very deep rooting system enabling it to resist wind and is taken as a reference by INIBAP for the Fusarium Wilt. The corm is very hard and no weevil incidences have been recorded.


General acceptance and performance:

When introduced in 1997, farmers were reluctant to consider it as a proper banana variety because of its thin pseudostem and its small bunch erecting as a "rocket" during the first 1 to 2 cycles. Also, presence of seeds in the fruit has occasionally been recorded. After 2 years, farmers adopted it as a dessert banana, for juice and brewing. Some are using it also for roasting. Due to its high resistance to pests and diseases, as compared to "bunana" (local dessert banana), which is susceptible to Fusarium Wilt Race 1, AAcv Rose has some potential as a dessert banana.

The average bunch weight is 9 Kg with a minimum and maximum recorded weight of 1 and 47 Kg respectively (see graph - 229 bunches harvested).


Direct and indirect diffusion:

KCDP introduced AAcv Rose in the region in 1997. A total of 1,186 in-vitro plants have been received from KULeuven between 1997 and 2001. 5,713 plants have been directly diffused till December 2001. 22,686 plants have been indirectly diffused up during the same period on the minimum hypothesis that one plant produces 2 suckers every year. This brings the total diffusion of AAcv Rose to minimum 28,399 plants in December 2001. The direct diffusion of this variety continues at low rate. Moreover, this variety is very prolific and does not require much effort; it can be easily multiplied by farmers.