Fiber Yield and Characterization of Locally Grown Abaca (Musa textilis Née) Cultivars in Aklan, Philippines

Abstract

Abaca (Musa textilis Née) is a natural fiber-producing plant that is endemic to the Philippines. It is primarily grown for its fibers in textile and industrial applications. Currently, five locally described Abaca cultivars are grown in Aklan: Tabukanon, Bisaya, Agbayanon, Negro, and Totoo. Limited information exists, and no in-depth research has been conducted on the yield of these Abaca cultivars. The study investigated the fiber yield performance of Abaca cultivars in Aklan using a linear mixed-effects model (LMM) and Tukey’s HSD method at a 5% level to determine differences between cultivars. Findings highlighted highly significant differences among cultivars in terms of tuxy weight, extracted fiber weight, dry weight, moisture content, fiber length, and fiber count. Findings revealed that significant differences were observed in the inner layers of tuxy, extracted fibers, moisture content, and fiber length, while in the outer layers, significant differences were observed only in dry weight and fiber count. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the tuxy weight, extracted fiber, moisture content, and fiber length for the outer layers, whereas extracted fiber and dry weight were significantly different for the inner layers. The study highlighted that Bisaya and Tabukanon exhibited high inner fiber yield and tuxy weight but have shorter fiber lengths and potential for commercial production. In contrast, the Totoo cultivar produced a high fiber count; however, it had lower tensile strength, shorter length, and lower dry weight. Among all cultivars, Negro exhibited significantly longer fibers (both layers), and Agbayanon had moderate fiber characteristics, which are desirable for industrial applications.