Heat Wave Impacts on Incidence of Deformed Banana (Musa AAA) Bunches in Ecuador, Possible Causes and Mitigation Options: A Case Study

Abstract: During the beginning of 2023 in banana (Musa AAA) producing areas of Ecuador, the presence of deformed bunches was detected in the farms. Many of the fruits due to their small size (length and diameter), did not meet the specifications required for export, despite having reached the physiological age. This was an isolated event, which is reported with such intensity for the first time. An attempt was made to identify what management or climatic variable could have promoted this phenomenon. After analyzing and reviewing the condition of the plants from which the bunches came, it was concluded that the problem was not management. Among climatic variables, precipitation was discarded because at the time the phenomenon occurred was within the rainy season and otherwise water requirements were supplied by the irrigation system. During the development of the bunches, maximum temperatures higher than 34 ^oC were registered, which suggests, based on what has been reported in the literature, that the phenomenon was caused by a heat wave. Some palliatives are mentioned that could reduce the magnitude of damage from future phenomena.