This study was conducted to determine the optimum growth stage exposed to low temperature for the commercial cultivation of bananas in a plastic house in terms of growth and yield after plants were exposed to low temperature, and heating period in the plastic house. `Dwarf Cavendish´ at the various growth stages was exposed to low temperature during a period of early November to mid-March in which minimum air temperature in the plastic house was below 15℃ Plant crops planted on August 4, September 6, October 4 and November 4, 1988 reached 26, 22, 20 and 16 leaf stages, respectively, on January 4, 1989.
The growth stage exposed to low temperature did not significantly affect final plant height, final length and diameter of pseudostem, the number of functional leaves at harvesting and emerged leaves, and length of leaf blade and petiole. However, the younger were the plants exposed to low temperature, the wider was leaf width. The older was the plants exposed to low temperature, the ealier were bunch head emergence and maturity. The number of days from planting to maturity was about 484 regardless of growth stage exposed to low temperature. Younger plants exposed to low temperature had longer fruit stalk than older plants. Diameter of fruit stalk, length of fruit bearing axis, length and weight of bunch were not influenced by the growth stage exposed to low temperature. The younger plants exposed to low temperature, the smaller the number of hands and fingers per bunch. The number of fingers per hand was about 20 irrespective of growth stage exposed to low temperature. Length, diameter and weight of finger were smaller in plots where the number of fingers per bunch was greater. Growth stage exposed to low temperature did not significantly influence fruit yield (bunch weight) per plant ranging 25.9 to 28.7㎏. Plant exposed to low temperature at 26 leaf stage shot in June and produced mature fruit in late November, resulting in the shortest heating period.
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