NEW WILD BANANA SPECIES

NEW WILD BANANA SPECIES

The researchers from University of Calicut in the fourth week of April 2013 reported that they have discovered a new subspecies of wild banana, named Musa velutina subsp. markkuana. This subspecies can be developed as an ornamental plant for tropical gardens.  This new species of wild banana was discovered in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh, it is characterized by smooth skinned fruits, purple pseudostems, erect maroon-coloured inflorescence and pink fruit. This plant grows under the marshy areas of forests. M Sahu, Head of Department of Botany of University of Claicut led the team of researchers that comprised Alfred Joe and P.E. Sreejith. The sub-species discovered is a part of the project that is funded by the Union Department of Science and Technology. The discovered subspecies can be used as an ornamental variety of plant and carries its commercial value for the cut flower industry. USP of this plant includes freshness that continues to be with it for more than a week’s time and the continuous inflorescence for more than a month. These plants also bear pink and maroon fruits during its fruiting stage. Many fruiting plants from the Balukpong Area, West Kameng district as well as Tezu and Hayulyang region were found by the researchers.

Prof. John Kurakar