Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Banana (*Musa paradisiaca*) is a heavy feeder that requires large amounts of nutrients, particularly potassium, to support its rapid growth and high fruit yield.
Nutrient deficiencies can cause specific physiological disorders that affect fruit quality.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In banana cultivation, the physiological disorder characterized by improper filling (or poor development of fingers) is primarily caused by Potassium (K) deficiency.
Potassium plays several critical roles in plant physiology:
- It regulates stomatal opening and water balance.
- It acts as an activator for key enzymes involved in starch and protein synthesis.
- It is essential for translocating photosynthesates (sugars and starches) from the leaves to the developing fruit sink.
Under potassium-deficient conditions, the translocation of sugars is disrupted.
As a result, the banana fingers fail to fill out properly, remaining thin, angular, and small, which significantly reduces yield and market value.
The other nutrients listed do not cause this specific fruit-filling disorder:
- Iron deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in young leaves.
- Magnesium deficiency causes chlorosis in older leaves.
- Copper deficiency causes leaf curling and stunted growth.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Improper filling of banana fingers is caused by Potassium deficiency, corresponding to option (B).