ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate gas exchange of banana Prata in two production cycles in semiarid environment. Six cultivars were used as treatments arranged into a completely randomized design with five replications and four plants per plot. For physiological characteristics, it was considered a factorial arrangement of 6x14x2, six cultivars, 14 periods (months), two readings, 8:00 and 14:00 in each period. The rates of gas exchange, the carboxylation efficiency and the instantaneous efficiency of water use were higher at 8:00 and lower at 14:00, with rare exceptions. The ‘BRS Platina’ had a higher leaf temperature, higher transpiration and lower water use efficiency. ‘Prata-Anã’, ‘FHIA-18’ and ‘Maravilha’ expressed lower leaf temperature and lower transpiration. The ‘Maravilha’ is the most efficient in water use. Transpiration increases linearly with the leaf temperature, while the instantaneous efficiency of water use decreases linearly.
Index terms Musa spp.; AAB and AAAB; physiological variables