° _ Fruits - vol. 34, n 2, 1979 - 99

Banana clonai situation in . A resume

C.M. BHAKTHA VATSALU and S. SATHIAMOORTHY*

lndia has a number of clonai ranging 'Red' banana (AAA). 'Nivedya kadali' has fruits which very in diversity from delicate edible diploid acuminata (AA) much resemble 'Rasthali' (AAB). It-is not an effective male types which can be nurtured only in sheltered and humid parent but is highly female fertile. environs to hardy triploids (ABB) types which can A passing mention of a wild in South tolerate seasonally arid monsoon climates prevailing in most acuminata lndia is necessary in the context of some of the cultivars parts of the country. The 'Poovan' AAB (Mysore) is by particularly of the 'Pome' group of clones resembling it. farthe foremost lndian dessert banana and 'Monthan' In peninsular [ndia sub species of is common ABB ('Bluggoe') the . To a small extent the M. acuminata in the Western Ghats. This is remarkably similar to the pattern of cultivar distribution has changed by the popu­ sub sp. SIMMONDS. lts mistaken identity as larisation of 'Cavendish' cultivars, predominantly 'Dwarf burmannica var. NA Y AR is due to the Cavendish' (AAA) and to a lesser extent 'Robusta' (AAA) Musa banksii singampaffi presence of some pollen in the basal female nowers. lts under special banana development programmes, particularly affinities certainly lie with sub sp. as ils in the Western and Southern States. burmannica, appearance in ail other respects suggests (SIMMONDS, 1956 The confusing synonomy of the local names of the banana and 1960). clones makes it diffïcult to identify them. Therefore, the clones from different regions are fïrst aggregated to identify AB Group distinct forms, their synonyms and mutants. Then they 'Ney Poovan' which is resistant to disease is are classifïed based on their ploidy levels and genome. grown mostly am idst arecanuts and is an esteemed clone Such a programme of collection, conservation and classi­ in Karnataka State. 'Kunnan' and .'Adakka Kunnan' are fication of banana germplasm, is a sine qua non for any backyard in Malabar coast and are more starchy active breeding effort in bananas (SIMMONDS, 1966; than 'Ney Poovan'. 'Thaen kunnan' (like 'Ney Poovan') bas SHEPHERD, 1977). the suffused pink tinge along the petiole margins, unlike Important clones, their synonyms and mutants are listed 'Kunnan' where the petiole base is more and gJaucous. in the annexure. Brief notes on cultivars - some important The fruits of 'Thaen kunnan' are angular with a prominent and others Jess so, grouped based on the genomic classi­ tip. lts mutant without male axis, 'Thattilla kunnan' often fication of SIMMONDS and SHEPHERD, are given below. resembles a 'Horn Plantain' when it is well grown. The fruits are bigger in size and the tip more pronounced than AA Group 'Thaen kunnan' and a bunch may contain anything from 'Matti' though Jess hardy has a potential to yield bunches 5-15 hands. ln taste it is like 'Ney Poovan' and is much weighing over 30 kg with an excellent grade of about relished. This group is of no importance in breeding since 18 hands; the fruits are· long with a pronounced tip. It is the clones are mostly male and female sterile; 'Adukkan' highly male and female fertile. The pollen content per and 'Nattu Poovan' set a few seeds. anther is 4500 with a fertility of 36 per cent. lt readily AAA Group sets seeds with other polleniferous edible AA diploids and some AAA triploids. It yields on an average eight good 'Amritsagar' akin to 'Gros Michel' is a choice clone seeds in ten fruits. So 'Matti' has a great potential in Of West Bengal and Bangladesh. There are reports of it banana breeding. 'Anaikomban' and 'Sanna Chenkadali' are possessing some tolerance to . But it is not hardy clones and 'Namarai' is a delicate one. The fruits of a prolifïc clone and has no commercial status. 'Sanna chenkadali' resembles 'Matti' but it has red skin 'Dwarf Cavenish' is being grown in South, West and with a light orange yellow nesh; its male bud resembles North Eastern parts of lndia because of the interest generated in the export of bananas and launching of special de- * Tamil Nadu Agricullural University Coimbatore, India 100 Frnits - vol. 34, n"2, 1979

velopment schemes to boost its production. 'Robusta' inspite to other AAB clones like 'Pacha nadan'. 'Nendran' (French of its good yield and vigour needs a prop without which plantain) also has an array of mutants with different pseu­ il gets blown down by wind; this precludes its extensive dostem colours. The variegated mutant of 'Nendran' - 'Ani! cultivation. Vazhai' is also of ornamental interest.

'Wather' has a Jax but heavy bunch with characteristically 'Pisang seribu' (Musa chilioca,pa) is a freskish mutant of protruding straight fruits, of about 28 cm long. lt almost 'Thiruvananthapuram' with smaller fruits of innumerable resembles the diploid 'Anaikomban' (AA) but is more hands. 'Kalibow' ('Celat'). vigorous and prolific. The fruits Jack the navour of This ta!! and sturdy clone can be recognised at a dis­ Cavendish clones. 'Wather' produces 10500 pollen per anther tance from the characteristic purple brown linge of the with a fertility of 15 per cent. It readily sets seeds with sheaths. The petiole base is renexed and the peduncle many edible diploids. puberulent. The bunch is compact with about 7 hands of 'Chakkarakeli' is grown commercially in the Godavari angular fruits. The male bud is high shouldered and acute delta of Andhra Pradesh. It is not a prolific clone. The with imbricate bracts. The male nowers are creamy white fruits are strongly attached to pedicel and on ripening turn with yellow teeth. yellow with green tip. Though sweet the pu!p is of poor ABB Group texture and has to be squeezed out for eating. lt is highly susceptible to leaf spot. 'Manoranjitham' is neither a common The predominant cooking bananas of ln dia 'Nalla bontha' nor a prolific clone. It has a strikingly waxless foliage and 'Monthan' and 'Kuribontha' including their mutants, differ stem. lt is highly resistant to leaf spot. The ripe fruit has in fruit size, waxiness, blunter tip and grade. a delicate aroma reminiscent of A r1abo11ys odorarissimus but 'Neymannan' is another distinct cultivar, bearing heavy its taste is not inviting. bunches of fairly close set hands of angular fruits. It is AAB Group used both as a cooking and dessert banana. Jt is susceptible to Panama disease and bunches with partly or completely 'Sugandhi' is intermediate between 'Poovan' (Mysore) and shrivelled fruits due to anthracnose are not uncommon. 'Rasthali' ('Silk') in the expressi�n of most characters. lt has a characteristically renexed petiole base and a conspi­ 'Peyan' is a dessert clone, reputed in native medicine, cuous wrist in which the fruits are borne. lt has a compact with angular fruits and thick skin. When compared to plant bunch of short and plumpy fruits that are pale green like size it is not prolific and is also susceptible to anthrac­ 'Rasthali' and bottle-necked like 'Poovan'. nose. 'Virupakshi' ('Pome') has mutants possessing contrasting 'Karpuravalli' has heavier bunches of fruits that have pseudostem colours from bright red 'Ney Vazhai' to intensely thin skin and subtle navour; the nesh is stodgy and lies black 'Krisha Vazhai'. ln general 'Pome' type of cultivars are heavily on the stomach. lt is hardy and grows well in mar­ well suited for rainfed culture in higher elevations and do ginal situations; virtually immune to Panama disease and well in plains even in marginal situations when compared lcaf spot but not tolerant to anthracnose. Fruits - vol. 34, n"2, 1979 - 101

Musa ucu111i11afa �,,h ,,, 3rm.

c .. ,, hoto 1. sub. sp. burmannica

Photo 3. 'Namarai' (AA)

Photo 2. 'Matti' (AA) Photo 4. 'Sanna Chenkadali' (AA) 102 Fruils - vol. 34, n°2, 1979

Photo 5_ 'Wather' (AAA)

Photo 7. 'Karpuravalli' (ABB)

Photo 6. 'Thatilla kunnan' (AB) < l'ru its - vol. ;14, n"2, 1979 -103

ANNEXVRE LIST OF WILD BANANAS AND CVLTIV ARS IN INDIA (Abbreviations : E = east, NE = north east, S = south, SW = south west, W = west)

Wild banana Synonym Mutant

l Musa acuminata subsp. burmannica (S) 2 Musa ba/bisiana (S, NE) 3 Musa laterila (S) 4 Musa ochracea (W) Clone AA Group 1 'Anaikomban' (S) 'Aaattukomban' (S) 'Ambalakadali' (S) 'Erachi Vazhai'(S) 2 'Matti' (S) 3 'Chingan' (S) 'Chingable' (SW) 'Maniyilla chingan' (S) 4 'Sanna chenkadali' (S) 5 'Kadali' (S) 'Nivedyakadali' (S) 6 'Suryakadali' (S) 'Pisang mas' ('Sucrier') 7 'Namarai' (S) 8 'Pisang lilin' 9 'Paka' 10 'Sikuzani' 11 'Tongat' AB Group l 'Ney Poovan' (S) 'Safed velchi' (W) 'Elakki baie' (S) 'Chini champa' (NE) 2 'Thacn Kunnan' (S) 'Thattilla kunnan' (S) ('Poovilla chundan') (S) 3 'Kunnan' (S) 'Yennettu kunnan' (S) 4 'Adakka kunnan' (S) 'Adukkan' (S) 5 'Nattu Poovan' (S) AAA Group 1 'Gros Michel' 'High gate' 2 'Amritsagar' (NE) 3 'DwarfCavendish' 'Pacha Yazhai' (S) 'Mauritius' (S) 'Basrai' (W) 'Jahaji' (NE) 'Kabulee' (NE) 4 'Giant Cavendish' 'Bongali Jahaji' (NE) 5 'Robusta' 'Peddapacha arati' (S) 'Harichal' (W) 6 'Pisang masak hijau' 'Lacatan' 7 'Wather' (NE) 'Digjoa'(NE) 'Naga baie' (W) 'Kommu arati' (S) 'Mo han bansi' (E) 104 Fruits - vol. 34, n°2, 1979

Wild banana Synonym Mutant

8 'Chenkadali'(S) 'Red' 'Lalkel'(W) 'Yenkadali' (S) 'Agniswar' (NE) ('Green red') 9 'Chakkarakeli'(S) 'Honda'(NE) 'Raja Yazhai'(S) 'Raja baie' (S) Thaen kadali (S) 10 'Manoranjitham' (S) 'Karivazhai' (S) 11 'Nakitembe' 12 'Nakabulul11'

AAB Group 1 'Poovan'(S) 'Karpura chakkrakeli(S) 'Motta poovan' (S) 'Lalvelchi'(W) 'Champa'(NE) ('Mysore') 2 'Rasthali'(Sl 'Arnirthapani'(S) 'Ayiranka rasthali'(S) 'Sonkel'(W) 'Mutheli'(W) 'Rasabale'(S) 'Malbhog'(NE) 'Morthaman'(NE) ('Silk') 3 'Sughandhi'(S) 'Puttubale'(S) 4 'Pachanadan'(S) 'Kaali'(S) 'Laadan'(S) 'Galibale'(W) 'Saldatti'(W) 5 'Nendrapadathi' 'Saker champa'(NE) 6 'Rajapuri' 'Walha'(W) 'Kullan' (S) 7 'Yirupakshi'(S) 'Malavazhai' (S) 'Krishna Yazhai' (S) 'Sirumalai'(S) (Black stemmed) 'Yannan' (S) 'Ney Yazhai'(S) ('Pome') (Red sterrimed) 8 'Nendran'(S) 'Rajeli'(W) 'Eleri' (S) ('French plantain') ('Green French Plantain') 'Yelathan'(S) ('Wine Plantain') 'Karu Nendran(S) ('Black French Plantain') 'Anil Yazhai' (S) ('Yariegated French Plantain') 9 'Myndoli' (S) 'Giant Plantain' IO 'Moongil'(S) 'Zanzibar'('Horn Plantain') 11 'Kaio' 12 'Chinali'(S) 'Pisang rajah' 13 'Thiruvananthapuram' (S) 'West lndian' 'Pisang seribu' ('Pisang Kelat') (Musa chilioca,pa) 14 'Kalibow' (?) 'Celat' (?) ° Fruils- vol. 34, n 2, 1979 -105

Wild banana Synonym Mutant

ABB liroup 1 'Nalla bontha' (S) 'Monthan' (S) 'Thella bontha' (S) 'Bankel' (W) 'Syn. 'Silver Bluggoe' 'Khasadia' (W) 'Sam bai" monthan' (S) ('Bluggoe') 'Nalla bontha bathees' (S) 2 'Monthan' (S) 'Pidimonthan' (S) 'Pacha montha bathees' (S) 'Kachkola' (NE) 'Sambarani monthan' (S) 'Jatikol' (NE) ('Booditha montha bathees') (S) 'Dhussray' (NE) 'Bhos' (NE) 3 'Kuribontha' (S) 'Chakkia' (NE) 'Muthia' (NE) 4 Ney mannan (S) 'Ney vannan' (S) 'Venneetu mannan' (S) 'Vayal vazhai' (S) ('!ce cream') 5 'Peyan' (S) 'Peyladan' (S) 'Poothibale' (S) 'Bhurkel' (W) 6 'Karpuravalli' 'Peykunnan' (S) 'Manohar' (N) 'Sail kola' (NE) 'Kostha bontha' (S) ('') AAAA Group l 'Bodies altafort' ABBB Group 1 'Klue teparod'

Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful to Dr K. SHEP­ PARD, Director, Banana Breeding Research Scheme, Ja­ maica, for his valuable suggestions in the preparation of this paper.

RÉFÉRENCES SHEPHERD (K l (19771 Banana germplasm, lBPGR Rome. SIMMONDS (N W.) (1956) Botanical results of the banana collecting expedition. 1954-55. K ew Bull., 11 : 463-89. SIMMONDS (N.W l (1960) Notes on banana taxonomy. Keu· Bull., 14: 198-212 SIMMONDS (N W) (1962) The evolution of the bananas. Longmans, London SIMMONDS (N W l (1966). Ba11a11as, Longmans, London