Bananas and Plantains
Family: Musaceae
Genus: Musa
Species:
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M. acuminata
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M. balbisiana
Genus Musa
Section Eumusa
Major species of economic importance
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Musa acuminata (A genome)
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Musa balbisiana (B genome)
Ploidy levels of commercial bananas
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Diploid, AA and BB
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Triploid, AAA, AAB, ABB
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Tetraploid, AAAA, AABB, ABBB
Major evolutionary events
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Probably millennia ago
Types of Bananas
Banana
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Desert banana, fresh consumption
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AAA
Plantain
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Cooking, Meal, Vegetable banana
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Plátano, banano macho
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AAB or ABB
Banana Origin and Domestication
Adaptation: Hot Humid Tropics
Temperature
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Frost free
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Mean temperature of 27 C (80 F)
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Minimum winter temp of 15.5 C (60 F)
Moisture
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Rain, 100 mm (4.0”) per month
Soil
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Good drainage is needed
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Slightly acid, pH 5.5 to 6.5
Banana Cultivation and Climate
Most Banana/Plantain Production within Region with Winter Temperate Greater than 15.5 C (60 F) and Rainfall greater than 1,270 mm (50”)
Banana Cultivation and Climate
Bananas Grown for Local Consumption
Banana Cultivation and Climate
Bananas Grown for Export = T
Weather Problems
Wind
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15-20 mph – leaf damage, twisting, breakage
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40 mph – considerable damage
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60 mph – complete destruction
Why
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Pseudostem not as strong as woody stem
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Large leaves that catch wind
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Shallow root system
World Production
Production
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Bananas, 72 million MT (56% Asia)
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Plantains, 25 million MT (89% Africa)
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Staple food for 70 million Africans
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90% grown on small farms and consumed locally
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10% exported from plantations
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Latin America and Caribbean region
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