Seed Set Patterns in East African Highland Cooking Bananas Are Dependent on Weather before, during and after Pollination

Seed set in banana is influenced by weather, yet the key weather attributes and critical period of influence are unknown. We therefore investigated during floral development for a better perspective seed increase. Three East African highland cooking bananas (EAHBs) were pollinated with pollen fertile wild ‘Calcutta 4′. At full maturity, bunches harvested, ripened, seeds extracted from fruit pulp. Pearson’s correlation analysis was then conducted between per 100 fruits bunch at 15-day intervals 105 days before pollination (DBP) to 120 after (DAP). positively correlated average temperature (P < 0.05–P 0.001, r = 0.196–0.487) negatively relative humidity (RH) −0.158–−0.438) 75 DBP time pollination. After pollination, ‘Mshale’ ‘Nshonowa’ 45 DAP −0.213–−0.340). Correlation coefficients highest 15 ‘Nshonowa’, whereas ‘Enzirabahima’, Maximum as revealed principal component should be main focus