Variability Assessment of Banana Cultivars and Intercropping with Lemongrass Based on Fruit Quality Indicators

Bananas are one of the most consumed fruits in the world and are essential for food security and in the agricultural economy. Their sustainable production is vital for many communities. Herein, the effects of banana cultivars, cropping systems (monocropping and intercropping with lemongrass), and the interaction between these factors on the physicochemical characteristics of ripe and unripe fruit were evaluated. The intercropping of bananas with lemongrass did not alter the main quality indicators of the fruit. The ripe fruits of the SCS451 Catarina cultivar stood out for their higher fruit mass, pulp/peel ratio, and firmness, while the fruits of the Prata Anã and BRS FHIA Maravilha cultivars had the highest SS, SS/TA ratio, pH, and reducing and total sugars. The cultivar SCS451 Catarina had the highest mineral content in the unripe fruit, and for all cultivars, the order of mineral levels was K > N > Mg > P > Ca > Fe > Zn. The higher content of total and resistant starch in the unripe fruit of the Prata Anã and BRS FHIA Maravilha cultivars, combined with the characteristics of the ripe fruit, make them suitable for both fresh consumption and industrial use. Diversifying cultivars improves the quality of banana fruit, and intercropping with lemongrass can be a sustainable method of managing banana fields.