Tropical and subtropical fruits (2+1)

Introduction

BANANA

• Botanical Name : Musa paradisiaca L / M. cavendishi L
• Family : Musaceae
• Chromosome No. : 2n = 22, 33, 44


Fig. 1 A well developed Banana plant

Banana is an important fruit of tropics. The fruit is recognized as the fourth most important global food commodity. India’s share is 32 per cent of the total fruit production. This is the only tropical fruit which is exported in large quantities and is leading fruit in the international trade. It is one of the oldest and commonest of the Indian fruits that has been cultivated since ancient times. Eve was said to have used banana leaves to covers her modesty in the garden of paradise. Banana is thus called apple of paradise. It is also known as “Adam’s fig or tree of wisdom. It is used as staple fruit in most of the African countries and is used as ripe (table) or raw fruit (cooking). This fruit is available throughout the year. All the plant parts are being used.