The effect of the selective removal of leaves at flowering on yield, growth, maturity and quality of Grand Nain banana fruits was evaluated. The present study was conducted in three regions of Uraba (Colombia) with precipitation low (experiment 1), medium (experiment 2) and high (experiment 3). The experimental design used randomized complete blocks, four treatments (6, 8, 10 and 12 leaves from the start of flowering) and three replications. Every 15 days, the thickness (cm) and length (cm) of central fruit from the second hand were measured and two fruits were taken to record fresh weight and dry weight. At harvest, leaf number, bunch weight (kg), and the thickness (cm) and length (cm) of central fruit from the second hand were measured. During fruit ripening (8 and 15 days), the contents of starch and sugars in the pulp were determined. The thickness and length of the fruit, bunch weight and the boxstem ratio were not affected (P<0.05) by selectively removing leaves. The percentages of total sugars and starch during fruit ripening were unchanged (P<0.05) as a result of the number of functional leaves. These results suggest that in banana cultivation, it is possible to leave less than 12 leaves at flowering without affecting fruit quality or postharvest ripening. / Se evaluo el efecto de la eliminacion selectiva de hojas a la floracion sobre la produccion, crecimiento, maduracion y calidad de los frutos de banano Gran Enano. El estudio se realizo en tres zonas de Uraba (Colombia), con precipitacion baja (experimento 1), media (experimento 2) y alta (experimento 3). Se uso un diseno de bloques completamente al azar, cuatro tratamientos (6, 8, 10 y 12 hojas desde el inicio de floracion) y tres repeticiones. Cada 15 dias se midieron el grosor (cm) y la longitud (cm) del fruto central de la segunda mano y se tomaron dos frutos mas para registrar el peso fresco y el peso seco. A la cosecha se midieron el numero de hojas, el peso del racimo (kg), el grosor (cm) y la longitud (cm) del fruto central de la segunda mano. Durante la maduracion de los frutos (8 y 15 dias) se determinaron los contenidos de almidon y azucares en la pulpa. El grosor y la longitud del fruto, peso del racimo y la cantidad de cajas a partir de un racimo (ratio), no fueron afectados (P<0,05) por la eliminacion selectiva de hojas. Los porcentajes de almidon y azucares totales durante la maduracion de los frutos no variaron (P<0,05) como consecuencia del numero de hojas funcionales presentes. Estos resultados sugieren que en el cultivo de banano, es posible dejar las plantas con menos de 12 hojas desde la floracion sin que se afecte la calidad de los frutos o su maduracion en poscosecha.