CULTURAL MANAGEMENT OF BANANA, D'ANGOLA CULTIVAR, FOR THE CONTROL OF BLACK-SIGATOKA

The objective of this work was to evaluate management systems for the control of Black Sigatoka in the cultivation of banana D'Angola cultivar. The experiment was installed and carried out at Embrapa Acre, Rio Branco - AC with the treatments distributed in randomized complete blocks with six replications consisting of different planting densities, corresponding to T1 - (1.111 plants ha(-1); T2 - 1.666 plants ha(-1); T3 - 2.000 plants ha(-1); T4 - 1.333 plants ha(-1); T5 - 2.500 plants ha(-1) and; T6 - 1.111 plants ha(-1) under rubber trees. The evaluations were carried out during two cycles of production. Plants of cv. D'Angola (AAB) cultivated in 3.0 x 3.0 m, shaded by the rubber trees, presented higher plant height, higher number of functional leaves at flowering and harvest, higher average bunch weight, greater weight of the bunches, longer cycle production and reduced severity of black sigatoka. Highest yields were obtained when we adopted higher densities. The banana intercropping with rubber trees proved to be a good alternative to permit cultivation of cv. D'Angola (long banana).