Brazilian banana crop: current situation and research challenges.

Brazil is the worlds fifth largest producer of bananas, with 7.3 million Mg, 503 thousand ha and average yield of 14.6 Mg ha-1. The country also holds an important market with unique characteristics. In the Northern and Northeastern regions, AAB varieties such as Pacovan, Dwarf Prata and Terra dominate. In the Southeastern region, AAB Prata, Dwarf Prata and Maca and AAA Cavendish type, in that order. In the Southern region, Cavendish varieties and the Prata type, and, in the Midwest, Prata type and Maca. In the main banana producing centers of the country, in general, the climatic conditions are suitable, except for water limitation in the North of Minas Gerais, Medium and Submedium Sao Francisco in Bahia, Submedium Sao Francisco at Pernambuco, Jaguaribe-Apodi in Ceara and Mossoro/Acu in Rio Grande do Norte, overcome with the use of irrigation; and low temperatures in Sao Paulo and in the South. Research with the crop began in 1925 in Sao Paulo, and became more consistent after the 1970s. The Brazilian system of agricultural research is constituted by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company, state research companies, federal and state universities and other research, teaching and extension institutions. More than a fifth of the 453 articles published in leading scientific journals in Brazil, in the last 20 years, developed the theme improved genotypes. The Brazilian Banana Breeding Program, coordinated by Embrapa Cassava and Fruits, began in 1983 and made available to farmers several genotypes, since 1995. In the North of the country, where black Sigatoka is present and there are climatic conditions favorable to the pathogen, there was greater adoption the new genotypes. The banana crop in Brazil has evolved greatly in recent decades, due to the generation, adaptation and diffusion of technology, but also the organization of banana growers. Some highly technified production centers emerged, especially in irrigated areas, disseminating information and functioning as showcases positive for producers.