There's been a bunch of debate over flower beheading and its impacts, wasn't sure if it was a settled matter yet so went looking for published research papers. Found one from 2016 that finally ran statistics, so I'll try and condense the info from it.
Study was done on 'Dwarf Cavendish'. They tested cutting the bud off at 2 different spots:
1. The spot after the female flowers finish
2. The spot the bud is at after the hermaphrodite flowers dried
C. control, no cutting
Results
-Harvest time improved. Quickest to slowest was 1, 2, C; caveat that 1 and 2 may have had different timing due to environment.
-Bunch and finger weight increased. Heaviest to lightest was 2, 1, C.
In short; cut the male bud after hermaphroditic flowers for best fruit quality.
Would also be beneficial in managing drying/rot (per other forum members discussing in previous threads).
original article
https://www.researchgate.net/publica...sh'_banana