Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Screening of Male Flower Buds of Some Banana Cultivars Grown in Assam

The experiment was conducted in the Department of Horticulture, Biswanath College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Biswanath Chariali in the period begning from November, 2016 till the end of 2018 with eight different banana cultivars grown in Assam i.e T1: Jahaji (AAA), T2: Amritsagar (AAA), T3: Chenichampa (AAB), T4: Malbhog (AAB), T5: Kachkal (ABB), T6: Manohar (ABB), T7: Bhimkal (BBB), T8: Wild banana (BB). Phytochemical assessment revealed the highest and lowest values of pH in the cultivars of balbisiana group and acuminata group, respectively. The moisture content ranged from 80 to 90 percent; ash content, sucrose content, crude fibre and total carbohydrate content varied in all the cultivars. Sugar content in terms of glucose and fructose were highest in Chenichampa while the lowest glucose content was recorded in Amritsagar. Phosphorus content ranged from 51.98 mg/100g to 14.27 mg/100g while potassium content ranged from 786.40 mg/100g to 427.61 mg/100g. The male flower buds possessed crude protein, starch, anthocyanin, sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, important minerals like phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and anti-nutrients like tannin, saponin and phenolic compounds, but their concentrations varied among the cultivars. Organoleptic taste revealed that the male flower buds of cultivars namely, Bhimkal (BB), Wild banana (BB), Malbhog (AAB) and Kachkal (ABB) were found to be tastiest for consumption as vegetable.

Seed Set Patterns in East African Highland Cooking Bananas Are Dependent on Weather before, during and after Pollination

Seed set in banana is influenced by weather, yet the key weather attributes and the critical period of influence are unknown. We therefore investigated the influence of weather during floral development for a better perspective of seed set increase. Three East African highland cooking bananas (EAHBs) were pollinated with pollen fertile wild banana ‘Calcutta 4′. At full maturity, bunches were harvested, ripened, and seeds extracted from fruit pulp. Pearson’s correlation analysis was then conducted between seed set per 100 fruits per bunch and weather attributes at 15-day intervals from 105 days before pollination (DBP) to 120 days after pollination (DAP). Seed set was positively correlated with average temperature (P < 0.05–P < 0.001, r = 0.196–0.487) and negatively correlated with relative humidity (RH) (P < 0.05–P < 0.001, r = −0.158–−0.438) between 75 DBP and the time of pollination. After pollination, average temperature was negatively correlated with seed set in ‘Mshale’ and ‘Nshonowa’ from 45 to 120 DAP (P < 0.05–P < 0.001, r = −0.213–−0.340). Correlation coefficients were highest at 15 DBP for ‘Mshale’ and ‘Nshonowa’, whereas for ‘Enzirabahima’, the highest were at the time of pollination. Maximum temperature as revealed by principal component analysis at the time of pollination should be the main focus for seed set increase.

Hydropriming Improves Germination and Plant Recovery During Embryo Rescue of Wild Banana Musa acuminata var. tomentosa

Wild bananas are believed to have genes for resistance to biotic and abiotic stress in nature, making them potential genetic resources for creating superior varieties. Wild banana seeds, such as Musa acuminata var. tomentosa are generally difficult to germinate in vivo, so that in vitro embryo culture technique is needed. This study aimed to increase embryo germination and regeneration of wild banana M. acuminata var. tomentosa by soaking the seeds as hydropriming. The treatment comprised of soaking the seeds in sterile distilled water for four periods of time: 0 (control), 1, 4, and 7 days. A total of 45 embryos for each treatment were planted on petri dishes containing MS + 0.5 mg/L BA + 1 mg/L biotin + 1 mg/L proline. The results showed that hydropriming increased the rate of embryo germination and regeneration. Seeds soaked for 1, 4, and 7 days successfully resulted in embryo germination percentages of 87%, 62%, and 62%, respectively, while the control unsoaked seeds germinated with a lower percentage of 42%. One-day soaking treatment was the most optimal treatment to increase the rate of germination and regeneration as well as obtained the best vigor as demonstrated by the highest average height of plantlets, number of leaves, and roots than other treatments. Thus, 1-day seed hydropriming is the best treatment for embryo rescue and regeneration of wild banana M. acuminata var. tomentosa

Application of Pollen Germination Media on Stigmas during Pollination Increases Seed Set in East African Highland Cooking Bananas (Musa spp.)

Seed set in East African Highland Cooking bananas (EAHBs) is extremely low and therefore hampers breeding. Pollen–pistil interaction is a key contributing factor. We assessed the effect of pollen germination media (PGM) on seed set in EAHBs. Five EAHB cultivars were pollinated with pollen from the wild banana ‘Calcutta 4’. Glucose-based PGM sprayed on freshly emerged stigmas significantly increased seed set per 100 fruits per bunch. Increases were 73.5% in ‘Enzirabahima’, 39.9% in ‘Mshale’, and 302.4% in ‘Nshonowa’. However, PGM did not increase seed set in the female sterile ‘Mlelembo’ and ‘Nakitembe’. As larger bunches were more fertile, good field management practices are also recommended to get more seed to improve breeding efficiency.

Effect of drying techniques on yield, nutritional, minerals of wild banana pulp (Musa balbisiana Colla): physicochemical and morphological characterization thereof

PurposeThe study was aimed to compare the effect of three drying techniques viz., spray, freeze and hot air oven (HAO) drying on yield, nutritional parameters, minerals and physicochemical and morphological characterization of wild banana pulp (Musa balbisiana Colla).Design/methodology/approachContents of carbohydrate was estimated by Anthrone reagent, protein by Kjeldahl, fat by Soxhlet, dietary fiber and ash by Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), minerals by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, gross calorific value by Bomb calorimeter, moisture by moisture analyzer, water activity by water activity meter, morphological characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), statistical level of significance at p < 0.05 by ANOVA, predictive modeling by simple and multiple linear regression.FindingsFreeze and HAO drying were standardized with matured (stage 2) and spray drying with ripe bananas (stage 6). Freeze drying showed highest yield (76.69 ± 0.15%), minerals viz., K (1175.67 ± 1.41), Fe (2.27 ± 0.09), Mg (120.33 ± 0.47), Mn (4.40 ± 0.28) mg/100 g, protein (7.53 ± 0.14%), lesser moisture (7.95 ± 0.01%), water activity (0.17 ± 0.02aw), hygroscopicity (6.37 ± 1.09%), well dispersed particles by SEM. HAO drying exhibited highest dietary fiber (18.95 ± 0.24%), gross calorific value 357.17 kcal/100 gm, higher solubility (47.22 ± 0.86%). Spray drying showed highest carbohydrate (85.29 ± 0.01%), lowest yield (28.26 ± 0.32%), required 30.5% adjuncts.Research limitations/implicationsEffect of three drying techniques and use of adjuncts were not uniform for ripe and matured bananas.Practical implicationsCommercial utilization of seeded wild banana.Social implicationsValue addition of wild banana in Assam, IndiaOriginality/valueFreeze drying of mature wild banana pulp (M. balbisiana) was found as best technique utilizing lesser energy.

Seed Set Patterns in East African Highland Cooking Bananas Show Asymmetric Distribution in Bunches and Fruits

Low female fertility in bananas is the biggest hurdle for banana breeding. The aim of this study was to determine seed set patterns in East African Highland Cooking bananas (EAHBs) to inform future decisions on a more targeted approach of increasing seed set and subsequently banana-breeding efficiency. Matooke (AAA) and Mchare (AA) bananas are genetically distinct but belong to the same genetic complex, referred to as EAHBs. Seed set patterns in “Enzirabahima” (AAA), “Mshale” (AA), and “Nshonowa” (AA), all with residual fertility, were examined after hand pollination with a highly male fertile wild banana “Calcutta 4” (AA). Seed set in “Enzirabahima” is predominant in distal hands. Mchare cultivars have a slightly more even distribution of seeds in their hands compared to “Enzirabahima”. There is a gradual increase in seed set from proximal to distal hands with a slight drop in the last hand. This pattern is more definite in “Enzirabahima” and “Mshale”, while “Nshonowa” has a somewhat inconsistent pattern. There is also a drop in seed set per 100 fruits per hand from small to larger bunches. However, larger bunches have a higher pollination success compared to smaller bunches. They therefore set more seed on 100 fruits per hand and per bunch basis, if bunches without seed are accounted for. Pollination success rate increases from smaller to larger bunches of EAHBs. Seed set is biased toward the distal third part of fruits of examined EAHBs, as well as tetraploid Matooke hybrid “401K-1” (AAAA), and improved diploid “Zebrina” GF (AA) that were used for comparison. In comparison, in the highly female fertile “Calcutta 4”, seed set is along the entire length of the fruit. Seed set bias in the distal hands and distal end of fruits suggests a systematic mechanism rather than a random occurrence. It is expected that this information will provide a foundation for increased crossbreeding efficiency in bananas.

Characterization of banana bunchy top virus on Sumatra (Indonesia) wild banana

Rahayuniati RF, Hartono S, Somowiyarjo S, Subandiyah S, Thomas JE. 2021. Characterization of banana bunchy top virus on Sumatra (Indonesia) wild banana. Biodiversitas 22: 1243-1249. Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) has been a major constrain on banana production worldwide. This virus infection is mostly found in banana cultivation. The study aimed to characterize the BBTV on Sumatra wild bananas. The survey to collect seeds and typical symptomatic samples had been done in 2017 and 2019 in West Sumatra, South Sumatra, and Bengkulu. The transmission test of the virus was conducted by using the viruliferous vector on four wild banana species, while the identity of BBTV confirmed by nucleotide sequences analysis using primer pairs of DNA R and DNA S. Musa acuminata subsp. sumatrana (AA) have been found naturally infected by BBTV. The transmission confirmed on M. acuminata subsp. longipetiolata, M. acuminata subsp. malacensis, M. acuminata subsp. halabanensis and Musa sp. with typical bunchy top symptoms. The incidence on test plants were 40%, 80% 20%, 20% and 20%, respectively. The virus infection on Sumatra wild bananas prolonged the incubation periods in comparison to cv Mas. BBTV of M. acuminata subsp. sumatrana is similar to the BBTV MK940788 and MN073184 from Sumatra. This is the first report of BBTV on Sumatra wild banana. The result can be used as a reference to study the resistance of the banana against BBTV.

Distribution record of Musa borneensis var. sarawakensis Becc. and Musa campestris var. sarawakensis Becc. in West Kalimantan, Indonesia

Borneo Island has a large number of wild banana species. As a part of Borneo Island, West Kalimantan has limited information about the diversity of wild bananas. This research aims to update the record distribution of wild bananas from Bonti District of Sanggau Regency and to determine their morphological characteristics. Exploration method and resident information were used in this study. Two species of wild bananas have been identified and considered as new distribution records in West Kalimantan Province, namely-Musa borneensis var. sarawakensis with morphological character pseudostem red-purple colour, sparse black-purple blotches at petiole base, leaf base shape rounded on both sides, male bud red-purple colour and Musa campestris var. sarawakensis with morphological character pseudostem yellow-green colour, inflorescence erect, leaf base one side rounded and one-pointed, the dorsally pink-purple and ventrally pink-purple colour of bract.