Banana cultivar names and synonyms in Southeast Asiabioversityinternational.org/uploads/tx_news/Banana_cultivar_names... · BANANA CULTIVAR NAMES AND SYNONYMS IN ... Banana Names

BANANA CULTIVAR NAMES AND SYNONYMSIN SOUTHEAST ASIA

R. V. Valmayor1, S. H. Jamaluddin2, B. Silayoi3,S. Kusumo4, L. D. Danh5, O. C. Pascua6 and R. R. C. Espino7

———————1. Honorary Research fellow, INIBAP-ASPNET2. Curator, Malaysian Banana Collection, MARDI3. Curator, Thailand Banana Collection, KU4. Curator, Indonesian Banana Collection, CRIH5. Curator, Vietnam Banana Collection, Phu Ho6. Curator, Philippine Banana Collection, BPI

Introduction

Banana classification and nomenclature have long been a complicated issue.The problem emanated from the simplistic description of plantain, Musaparadisiaca Linn. and dessert banana, Musa sapientum Linn. by Karl Linnaeus,the father of modern botanical nomenclature. This was attributed to the verylimited specimens available to him in Europe where the original names weregiven. Hence, while the differentiation between banana and plantain, a specialtype of cooking banana, is readily applicable in Africa and Latin America, adoptionin Southeast Asia has led to confusion. In Asia, the center of Musa diversity,many local cultivars possess characteristics that transcend the diagnosticcharacters used elsewhere to differentiate bananas from plantains.

Another common problem confronting banana taxonomists and horticulturists inSoutheast Asia is the presence of numerous cultivar names and synonyms indifferent languages and dialects of the region. In most cases, the same cultivarsare known by different names in different countries. Occasionally, the samename is applied to distinct cultivars. Phonetic variations associated with tonallanguages in Asia often result to differences in spelling.

Wasteful duplication in the conduct of basic studies could have been avoidedhad researchers in Southeast Asia known that the banana cultivars they studiedseparately were actually one and the same clone. Knowledge of synonyms canpromote regional understanding and communication as well as banana tradeand commerce. Solutions to these problems were the subject of a regionalworkshop held at the Southeast Asian Banana Germplasm Resources Center inDavao, Philippines on September 1–4, 1999. The workshop was co-sponsoredby International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP-ASPNET) and (Bureau of Plant Industry/Davao National Crop Research andDevelopment Center (BPI/DNCRDC) of the Department of Agriculture.

Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia2

Participants were the curators of National Banana Germplasm Collections ofMalaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Status of Banana Classification and Nomenclature in Southeast Asia

The first scientific term given to banana is Musa paradisiaca Linn. publishedin 1753 by Linnaeus in his book Species Plantarum, the origin of modern botanicalnomenclature. His simple description was based on a plantain cultivar bearinglong and slender fruits that remain starchy even when fully ripe. The fruits arecooked before they become palatable and consumed. The male flowers andbracts of plantains are usually persistent and remain as dried relics on the malebud rachis. Later, Linneaus published Musa sapientum Linn. in SystemaNaturae in 1759 to describe a dessert banana which bear sweet fruits that areeaten fresh upon ripening. The male flowers and bracts of the second speciesare dehiscent, exposing a clean rachis. The common cultivars of banana andplantain in Latin America and West Africa closely fit the Linnean descriptions,and the two scientific names remained in wide usage for almost two centuries.However, their adoption in Southeast Asia generated confusions from early on.

In the center of diversity for bananas, many cultivars are classified as dualpurpose, wherein the fruits are consumed either fresh or cooked. There arealso many starchy, cooking cultivars with short, stout and angular fruits withdehiscent male flowers and bracts. These culinary bananas are distinct fromthe plantains and cannot be classified under Musa paradisiaca. Furthermore,the great diversity of dessert bananas in terms of plant stature, fruit size andcolor (yellow, green, red, and orange) far exceed the rather limited descriptionof the original Musa sapientum. To cope with the wealth in germplasm diversityin its center of origin, subsequent banana taxonomists applied such descriptivenames as Musa nana Lour. for the Dwarf Cavendish, Musa rubra Firming.von Wall. for the Red banana, Musa corniculata Lour. for the horn plantain,and many others. The proliferation of scientific names added more confusion tobanana nomenclature. The situation would have aggravated if it were not forCheesman (1948) and Simmonds and Shepherd (1955) who explained the originof edible bananas and proposed a new classification scheme.

Drawing upon their expertise in genetics and their vast experience incytotaxonomy, Simmonds and Shepherd concluded that the Linnean scientificnames Musa paradisiaca and Musa sapientum were based on hybrid cultivarsand hence, recommended their abolition. They likewise concluded that theedible bananas originated from two wild and seedy species, Musa acuminataColla and Musa balbisiana Colla which are endemic to Southeast Asia.

Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 3

Cheesman recognized three groups of morphologically distinct cultivars. Thefirst group shows predominantly the botanical characters of Musa acuminatawhile the second group of cultivars primarily exhibit the morphological featuresof Musa balbisiana. The third group possesses characteristics that combinethe morphological characters of the two wild species and are considered astheir natural hybrids. The primitive edible bananas are diploids that evolvedthrough the development of sterility and parthenocarpy in Musa acuminata.Through human selection, various clones were brought under cultivation in therainy parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia. Later, throughchromosome restitution, seedless triploid cultivars developed. Since triploidsproved to be more vigorous and productive, they gained greater popularity.Cheesman argued that the seedless, edible diploid cultivars of Musa acuminatamust be classified in the same species as their wild parents as they retained themorphological characteristics of their wild ancestors. Likewise, the seedlessand edible triploid cultivars that developed through chromosome restitution mustalso be recognized as the same species as their parents because the addition ofone set of chromosomes through autopolyploidy did not introduce anything newto the genetic constitution of the clone.

In the drier areas of Asia where the wild and seedy Musa balbisianapredominates, a parallel evolutionary development occurred which led to theappearance of pure diploid and triploid balbisiana cultivars first recognized inthe Philippines (Valmayor, et al., 1991). Since the development of sterility andparthenocarpy did not significantly alter the morphological characteristics of theresultant clones, the scientific name Musa balbisiana should also be applied tothe edible diploid and triploid cultivars derived from the wild balbisiana parents.In the center of origin of bananas, the natural distribution of wild Musa acuminataand Musa balbisiana overlap, and since the two species are cross compatible,hybridization occurred. The hybrids that evolved from the two natural speciesinclude diploids, triploids and a few tetraploids in various genome combinations.Figure 1 shows the various pathways leading to the development of ediblebananas. A major concern about the original terms Musa paradisiaca andMusa sapientum is their hybrid nature. However, according to rules of theInternational Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), hybridscan also be given a scientific name. However, the epithet must carry the prefixx to indicate the hybrid nature of the species. In the case of hybrid bananacultivars, Musa x paradisiaca Linn. should be adopted as this binomial waspublished ahead of Musa sapientum and is in fact recognized as the type speciesfor the banana. Musa x paradisiaca Linn. is applicable to all hybrids ofMusa acuminata and Musa balbisiana notwithstanding their genomecomposition (Greuter, 1995; Karamura, 1998).


Modern taxonomy using isozymes (Espino and Pimentel, 1990) and molecularmarkers (Jarret, 1990)confirmed the multi-specific origin of edible bananas.The application of molecular taxonomy is particularly useful in banana classificationbecause recent studies have shown that chloroplastic DNA is inherited fromthe female parent while mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the male parent.The use of nuclear or cytoplasmic RFLP probes now enable researchers toprecisely determine the maternal and paternal origins of banana cultivars (Lanaud,1999). Leading research institutions in Southeast Asia are now developingprobes based on original and authentic germplasm.

The diagram illustrated in Figure 1 highlights the role of Musa acuminata andMusa balbisiana in the evolution of edible bananas. It also shows that the twospecies comprise both wild and cultivated forms. The chart also projects theimportant role of interspecific hybridization in the proliferation of edible clones.The parents of hybrid triploids are not limited to the edible diploids as shown inthe simplified chart. It can also be traced back to the wild species. Figure 1 nolonger show the term Musa sapientum, the popular term for dessert bananas.The tetraploids could evolve through various possible combinations.

Musa acuminata Musa balbisiana (wild, diploid AAw) (wild, diploid BBw)

x

Musa acuminata Musa x paradisiaca Musa balbisiana (edible, diploids AAcv) (edible, diploid (edible, diploids BBcv) Ex. Pisang Mas or Sucrier hybrids AB) Ex. Abuhon Ex. Chuoi Com Lao

x x

Musa acuminata Musa x paradisiaca Musa x paradisiaca Musa balbisiana (edible, triploids AAA) (edible, triploid (edible, triploid (edible, triploids BBB) Ex. Pisang Ambon or hybrids AAB) hybrids, ABB) Ex. Saba, Pisang Kepok, Gros Michel Ex. Pisang Rastali Ex. Kluai Hak Muk Pisang Nipah, or Silk Khieo or Bluggoe Kluai Hin

Musa x paradisiaca Musa x paradisiaca (edible, tetraploid (edible, tetraploid hybrid AABB) hybrid ABBB) Ex. Kluai Ngoen Ex. Kluai Theparrot

Figure 1. Diagram showing the various pathways leading to the de-velopment of edible bananas.


Current Regional Banana Classification Scheme in Southeast Asia

Two natural species and a hybrid complex make up the edible bananas of today.This situation has rendered the identification of cultivars difficult. To cope withthe problem, the authors agreed to adopt the three tiers system namely – species,genome group, and cultivar, in classifying bananas and identifying cultivar namesand synonyms of the region. The taxonomic scorecard suggested by Silayoiand Chomchalow (1987), a modified version of the original designed by Simmondsand Shepherd, was found very useful in segregating the numerous banana varietiesinto six genome groups. Table 1 presents the 15 diagnostic characters used todifferentiate Musa acuminata clones from Musa balbisiana cultivars and theirhybrids. The cultivars are classified by inspecting the expression of each of the15 characters shown in Figure 2 and assigning a score of 1 for each characterthat adheres closely with wild acuminata and 5 for characters with extremebalbisiana expression. This scoring technique provides for a range of 15 (15 x1) for wild acuminata and 75 (15 x 5) for wild balbisiana species. Intermediateexpressions of the characters are assigned scores ranging from 2, 3, or 4depending on intensity. The hybrid cultivars, therefore, should have total scoresbetween 15 and 75. In actual practice, slight deviations are allowed. Table 2shows the six genome groups and the expected range of scores the cultivarsunder study will generate. Pure acuminata varieties should have scores between15 to 25 while pure balbisiana cultivars should range between 70 to 75. Thehybrids are expected to score between 26 to 69 points.

After identifying the species and genome group, the individual cultivars areclassified following the latest version of Descriptors for Banana (Musa spp.)and Musa Germplasm Information System (MGIS) published by INIBAP/IPGRIand CIRAD. The highly discriminating descriptors on plant stature, pseudostemand leaf characteristics, bunch and fruit characters, male bud and male flowercharacters are recorded. Horticultural performance such as data from plantingto flowering, from flowering to harvest, harvest to first ratoon, number of suckersat first harvest, bunch weight, number of hands and fingers, fruit size and qualityare observed. With the aid of botanical illustrations, photographs and actualfield study and observation at the regional banana variety collection of BPI inDavao, an inventory of cultivar names and synonyms was prepared by thecurators of national banana variety collections of Southeast Asia. Table 3 presentsthe list of banana cultivar names and synonyms of Southeast Asia while Table 4presents the list of cultivars unique to each country of the region. Table 5summarizes the number of cultivars under the two natural and one hybrid species.Data shows that Musa acuminata clones far exceed the number of Musabalbisiana varieties. The figures also show that AAB hybrids are more


Table 1. Characters used in the classification of bananas through ataxonomic scorecard.

Character Musa acuminata Musa balbisianaPseudostem color More or less heavily marked

with brown or black blotchesBlotches slight or absent

Petiolar canal Margin erect or spreading,with scarious wings below,not clasping pseudostem

Margin inclosed, not wingedbelow, clasping pseudostem

Peduncle Usually downy or hairy GlabrousPedicels Short LongOvules Two regular rows in each

loculusFour irregular rows in eachloculus

Bract shoulder Usually high (ratio < 0.28) Usually low (ratio > 0.30)Bract curling* Bract reflex and roll back Bracts lift but do not roll

after openingBract shape Lanceolate or narrowly

ovate,tapering sharply from theshoulder

Broadly ovate, not taperingsharply

Bract apex Acute ObtuseBract color Red, dull purple or yellow

outside; pink, dull purple orDistinctive brownish-purpleoutside; bright crimsoninside

yellow insideColor fading Inside bract color fades to

yellow towards the baseInside bract colorcontinuousto base

Bract scars Prominent Scarcely prominentFree tepal ofmale flower

Variably corrugated belowtip

Rarely corrugated

Male flowercolor

Creamy white Variably flushed with pink

Stigma color Orange or rich yellow Cream, pale yellow or palepink

* In varieties with persistent male bracts, curling is weak or absent, regardless ofgenotype (Source: Simmonds and Shepherd, 1955).


Table 2. Genome groups and their respective score rangesGenome Group Score

AA/AAA 15-25AAB 26-46

AB/AABB 47-49ABB 59-63

ABBB 67-69BB/BBB 70-75

(Source: Silayoi and Chomchalow, 1987)

(Source: IBPGR Revised Banana Descriptors, 1984)

Figure 2. Important characters used in determining species and ge-nome groups of edible banana.

.


Tab

le 3

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ones

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Kha

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huoi

Tru

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Suc

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Kin

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aga

Pis

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Pin

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Pin

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nte

Coh

olP

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g M

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Mas

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Hom

Th

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Son

Tud

lo D

atu

Pis

ang

Jari

Bua

yaP

isan

g Ja

ri B

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Chu

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ieu

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Bua

yaT

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Tum

baga

Pis

ang

Kol

eC

huoi

Tay

But

Pam

oti-

onC

huoi

Cau

Tra

ngM

oron

g P

rin

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ang

Gad

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Th

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Rua

ng

Chu

oi N

gu T

hoc

Lon

sin

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idi

Bat

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Klu

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Tie

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Jan

Raw

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Lem

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Mas

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hon

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sang

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Bad

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Dw

arf

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sh,

Ena

noT

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Pisa

ng C

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Pisa

ng A

mbo

n H

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g C

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Chu

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aven

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Pisa

ng B

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Pisa

ng A

mbo

n Pu

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huoi

Tie

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Rob

usta

Buñ

gula

nPi

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Mas

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Pisa

ng A

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hieo

Chu

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#1

Tal

l Cav

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atan

Gra

nde

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nePi

sang

Am

bon

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ngC

huoi

Va

Huo

ngG

rand

e N

aine

Past

ilan

Pisa

ng A

mbo

nFi

lipp

ina/

P. L

asse

Am

bon

Pisa

ng E

mbu

nPi

sang

Am

bon

Kun

ing

Klu

ai H

om T

hong

Chu

oi T

ieu

Cao

#2

Gro

s M

iche

l

Ban

gan

Pisa

ng A

ngle

ngK

luai

Dok

Mai

Chu

oi T

ieu

Vua

Pisa

ng S

usu

Pisa

ng S

usu

Klu

ai N

am N

omM

orad

oPi

sang

Raj

a U

dang

Mer

ah2

Pisa

ng U

dang

Klu

ai N

akC

huoi

Com

Lua

Red

, Roj

o, M

orad

o

Mor

adon

g Pu

tiPi

sang

Raj

a U

dang

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u2Pi

sang

Tel

orK

luai

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g K

hieo

Gre

en R

ed, R

ojo

Ver

de, M

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Om

aPi

sang

Am

ping

Pisa

ng A

mpy

ang

Pisa

ng P

otho

Wan

giK

luai

Kha

i Bon

gC

huoi

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Mus

a ac

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ata

Tri

ploi

d A

AA

(des

sert

),(C

aven

dish

)

(non

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endi

sh)

Pisa

ng P

elim

bing

Pisa

ng P

alem

bang

Lat

unda

n2Pi

sang

Ras

tali

Pisa

ng R

aja

Sere

hK

luai

Nam

Chu

oi G

oong

Silk

, Man

zana

Inan

gel

Pisa

ng K

elin

g3Pi

sang

Kel

ing

Klu

ai L

anka

Chu

oi C

om C

hua

Mys

ore

Gal

amay

Señ

ora

Pisa

ng K

elat

Air

Pisa

ng L

ongo

ngK

luai

Nam

Pha

tC

huoi

Muo

pK

ing

Dal

iri D

alag

aPi

sang

Tri

olin

Rad

jaPi

sang

Raj

a3Pi

sang

Raj

aK

luai

Kha

i Bor

an #

2R

aja

Ter

nate

Pisa

ng B

akar

anPi

sang

Bak

ar

Mus

a x

para

disi

aca

Tri

ploi

d A

AB

(des

sert

)

Pisa

ng S

erib

uPi

sang

Ser

ibu

Klu

ai R

oi W

iC

huoi

Tra

m N

aiSe

ribu


Tin

dok

Pisa

ng T

andu

kPi

sang

Bya

rK

luai

Kla

iH

orn,

Cue

rno,

Mac

hoPa

tag

Pisa

ng A

gung

Dal

uyao

Pisa

ng L

ang

Pisa

ng T

andu

kK

luai

Nga

Cha

ngC

huoi

Sun

g B

oB

unga

oisa

nPi

sang

Can

diN

endr

anL

akna

uPi

sang

Nan

gka

Pisa

ng N

angk

aK

luai

Niu

Cha

rakn

eL

akna

uPi

sang

Gad

ing

Pisa

ng G

adin

gM

aia

Mao

lePi

sang

Mao

leM

aole

Tri

ploi

d A

AB

(coo

king

)(p

lant

ain)

(non

-pla

ntai

n)D

uhoy

Pisa

ng U

liC

huoi

Voi

Kat

ali

Pisa

ng A

wak

3Pi

sang

Aw

ak3

Klu

ai N

amw

a L

uang

Aw

akSi

usok

Pisa

ng S

iem

3K

luai

Nam

wa

Dae

ngC

huoi

Tay

Mus

a x

par

adis

iaca

Tri

ploi

d A

BB

(dua

l pur

pose

)Pi

sang

Ras

aC

huoi

Mat

Bok

etM

atav

iaPi

sang

Abu

Kel

ing

Pisa

ng K

osta

Klu

ai H

ak M

uk K

hieo

Chu

oi N

gop

Lun

Blu

ggoe

, Cha

toK

atsi

laPi

sang

Abu

Per

akPi

sang

Kos

ta P

utih

Klu

ai H

ak M

uk K

hao

Silv

er B

lugg

oe,

Cen

izo

Mad

uran

gaPi

sang

Abu

Buj

alK

luai

Nom

Mi

Chu

oi N

gop

Cau

Mon

than

Pelip

iaC

huoi

Ngo

p C

aoPe

lipita

Mus

a x

para

disi

aca

Tri

ploi

d A

BB

(coo

king

)

Pisa

ng K

ari

Klu

ai T

ip

Mus

a x

para

disi

aca

Tet

rapl

oid

AB

BB

Tip

arot

Pisa

ng A

bu S

iam

Klu

ai T

hepp

arot

Chu

oi G

aoT

ipar

ot, T

ipar

od

Saba

Pisa

ng N

ipah

Pisa

ng K

epok

Klu

ai H

inSa

baC

arda

baPi

sang

Che

mat

uPi

sang

Kep

ok B

esar

Chu

oi M

atC

arda

baG

ubao

Klu

ai P

ham

a H

aek

Kuk

Chu

oi N

gu

Pa-a

Dal

aga

Chu

oi C

hua

Tur

angk

ogPi

sang

Kep

okK

unin

gC

huoi

Sap

Saba

ng P

uti

Pisa

ng K

apor

Pisa

ng K

epok

Put

ihPo

ndol

Klu

ai L

ep C

hang

Kut

Chu

oi N

gop

Dui

Duc

Lep

Cha

ng K

utK

alim

pos4

Pisa

ng S

epat

u A

mor

a

Mus

a ba

lbis

iana

Tri

ploi

d B

BB

(coo

king

)

Gia

nt S

aba

Pisa

ng L

ompo


Tab

le 4

. Ban

ana

cult

ivar

s u

niq

ue

to e

ach

cou

ntr

y in

Sou

thea

st A

sia.

Sp

ecie

s, G

enom

eP

hil

ipp

ines

Mal

aysi

aIn

don

esia

Th

aila

nd

Vie

tnam

Mu

sa a

cum

inat

aD

iplo

id A

A(d

esse

rt)

Bu-

oyE

da-a

nG

a-o

Inab

aca

Kat

ilS

eñor

ita

Su

yak

Tal

ipan

Pis

ang

Ser

inde

kP

isan

g Ja

rum

Pis

ang

Cic

i K

unin

gP

isan

g C

ici

Mer

ahK

luai

Lai

Klu

ai N

am T

hai

Klu

ai T

hon

g D

et

Chu

oi C

au M

an

Dip

loid

AA

(coo

kin

g)B

inak

ton

gG

olim

pang

Gu

yod

Tal

ipM

usa

acu

min

ata

Tri

plo

id A

AA

(des

sert

)

Bau

kas

Bin

alat

ong

Bin

awe

Tan

ggun

gU

mal

ag

Pis

ang

Bul

oh1

Pis

ang

Tua

lan

gP

isan

g B

ilit

ung

Pis

ang

Byo

kC

huoi

La

Run

gC

huoi

Cau

Tay

Chu

oi T

ieu

Cao

Hon

g

Mu

sa x

par

adis

iaca

Dip

loid

AB

(des

sert

)

Chu

oi D

ong

Chu

oi L

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numerous than ABB clones and that AB, AABB and ABBB hybrids are rare.Two varieties of Fe’i bananas, Musa fehi Bert. grown in the Maluku region ofeastern Indonesia and two unclassified accessions bearing edible fruits arelikewise included in Table 5. In Southeast Asia as in South Pacific, cultivarnames consist of a generic head term meaning banana followed by secondaryterms that generally designate the clone. The cultivar names presented in Tables3 and 4 are the terms most commonly used in the different countries of SoutheastAsia. However, synonyms also exist within each country and many publicationsmay have utilized the synonyms instead of the principal cultivar names adoptedin this bulletin. Table 6 enumerates 15 of the more popular cultivars in eachcountry of the region along with their national synonyms. The workshop refrainedfrom using the few internationally recognized sub-groups as the present list islimited and ill-defined except for the Cavendish and plantains, here applied in itsbroad sense and not in the strict and narrow meaning of the term. The authorsalso avoided from using the system of nomenclature proposed by Simmondsand Shepherd which replaced the species name with genome groups that couldeasily lead to errors and confusion. Instead, the simple but precise and stablemethod of Cheesman and the International Code of Nomenclature for CultivatedPlants was adopted.

Plantains are highly priced in Southeast Asia but not common except in Java,Indonesia. They are grown in backyards for home consumption and only a fewfarmers specialize in commercial production of plantains due to their susceptibilityto pests, diseases and adverse weather conditions. The general term plantain isapplied only to a specific subgroup of cooking bananas and does not include thenumerous and divergent culinary cultivars that are very popular in Asia. On theother hand, the term banana is not limited to the dessert varieties but also coversall the cooking bananas, including the plantains. In other words, all plantains arealso bananas but not all bananas are plantains! This is the reason why in SoutheastAsian languages, there is no differentiation between the foreign terms bananaand plantain. The common name pisang in Malaysia and Indonesia, saging inthe Philippines, kluai in Thailand, choui in Vietnam, and chiao in China areapplicable to all dessert and cooking bananas, including plantains.


Summary

The curators of national banana variety collections in Southeast Asia evaluatedthe existing banana classification schemes and agreed on a common andstandardized format which is simple but precise and stable system ofnomenclature to identify the species and cultivars of banana.

The three tier system using species, genome group and cultivar was adopted.Following Cheesman’s recommendations, the edible diploid and triploid derivativesof Musa acuminata Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla will adopt the scientificname of their respective wild parents. The hybrids of the two species will beclassified under Musa x paradisiaca Linn as recognized by the InternationalCode of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (Trehane, 1995).

The banana taxonomists of the region identified 68 cultivars with synonyms inSoutheast Asia and listed them in Table 3. Many other cultivars were found tobe unique to the countries of the region and 81 varietal names are presented inTable 4.

Table 5 presents a total of 149 distinct banana cultivars of Southeast Asia underthe three recognized species and nine genome groups. The data shows thatdiploid acuminata clones are the most numerous, followed by triploid acuminata

Table 5. Number of cultivars under the different species and types of edible bananas.

Species Genome Type Cultivars withSynonyms

UniqueCultivars

Total

Musa acuminata AA Dessert 17 16 33Dual purpose 2 - 2Cooking - 4 4

AA/AAA Dessert 2 - 2AAA Dessert 14 12 26

Musa x paradisiaca AB Dessert - 7 7Cooking - 1 1

AAB Dessert 7 7 14Dual purpose - 7 7Cooking 8 3 11

ABB Dual purpose 3 8 11Cooking 5 4 9

AABB Cooking - 1 1ABBB Cooking 1 - 1

Musa balbisiana BB Cooking - 2 2BBB Cooking 9 4 13

Total 68 76 144Musa fehi - 2 2Unclassified - 3 2

Grand Total 68 81 149


Table 6. The popular cultivars in Southeast Asia and their synonyms.

Common Names SynonymsPhilippines Latundan Tundan, Turdan, Suring

Lakatan MapangBuñgulan Buluñgan, BalañgonSulay Baguio Tampuhin, Po-otInarnibal Señorita, MonkoyTudlo Datu Morong DatuTernate Gloria, AngaoKatali LagkitanLaknau Darayan, MaybayMatavia Dacosta, GalañganKatsila Sabang KastilaTurangkog Calibo, Sab-aPelipia Pinipita, PelipitaTindok TondocSaba Dippig

Malaysia Pisang Mas P. Mas Besar, P. Mas KampungP. Empat Puluh Hari P. BoyanP. Rastali P. Kelat KelingP. Embun P. BungaP. Masak Hijau P. JelaiP. Awak P. Kelat SiamP. Raja P. Raja TalunP. Jari Buaya P. RotanP. Raja Udang Hijau P. Mundam, P. Minyak LautP. Keling P. CeylonP. Abu Keling P. Kelat AbuP. Nipah P. Abu NipahP. Gading P. RelongP. Abu Siam P. Benggala BaratP. Serendah P. Kapal

Indonesia Pisang Ambon P. Ambon KuningP. Badak P. MoroseboP. Uli P. JantanP. Mas P. Emas, AmasanP. Raja P. Raja BuluP. Udang P. Potho Merah, P. KidangP. Telor P. Potho HijauP. Nangka P. LampengP. Siem P. LongokP. Kosta P. Kepok HijauP. Kosta Putih P. Kepok AwuP. Kepok P. Kepok Putih, P. SabahP. Lampung P. BerlinP. Jari Buaya P. RejangP. Pinang P. Jambe


cultivars. The pure acuminatas clearly predominate in number over thebalbisiana clones and their hybrids. Another interesting observation is thatpractically all the acuminata cultivars are dessert bananas, with the exceptionof two dual purpose clones and four cooking varieties, three of which havedistinctive yellow bracts. On the other hand, all the pure balbisianas are culinaryvarieties. Bananas that are consumed either fresh or cooked are commonamong the hybrids. Some of the AAB hybrids are eaten fresh while none of theABB cultivars are considered dessert bananas.

The great wealth of Musa germplasm in Southeast Asia includes some of therarest and most unique cultivars of banana in the world. The Pisang Kates ofIndonesia bear large, solitary fruits per ‘hand’ and the ‘fingers’ look like smallpapaya. Kates mean papaya. The Fe’i bananas of eastern Indonesia bearsupright fruit bunches. The local name Pisang Tongkat Langit means banana thatface the sky or reaching towards heaven. On the other hand, the Pisang Seribuof Malaysia bears long and extended fruit bunches that hang and continuously

Thailand Kluai Khai K. Jek Bong, K. KraK. Lep Mu Nang K. MakK. Thong Ruang K. Khai Thong RuangK. Hom Thong K. HomK. Hom Khieo K. Khieo, K. KhraoK. Hom Khom K. Hom Tia, K. TiaK. Nak K. KhrangK. Lanka K. ChinK. Nam Thai K. Hom LekK. Namwa K. TaiK. Lep Chang Kut K. Lep Chang, K. KoK. Khai Bong K. Khai Pra Ta BongK. Hak Muk Khao K. Hak MukK. Hak Muk Khieo K. SomK. Thepparot K. Tiparot, K. Pli Hai

Vietnam Chuoi Tay But C. CamC. Ngu Thoc C. NguC. Tieu Lun C. Gia LunC. Tieu Vua C. Gia HuongC. Tieu Cao #1 C. GiaC. Man C. Man ComC. Tay C. SuC. Ngop Lun C. NgopC. Mat C. La MatC. Mat Boket C. LaC. Trung C. Tieu DenC. Tien C. Tien HueC. Tay Bot C. Tay TieuC. Nam C. Gao


grows and produces miniature fruits until almost touching the ground. PisangSeribu means banana with a thousand fruits. The very rare Pisang Rojo Uter ofIndonesia produces a continuous hand of fruits that spiral around the fruit stalkfrom base to tip of bunch. The Pitogo of the Philippines bears fruits that arealmost spherical in shape, just like the betel nut, while the Binendito or Inabanikocultivar is distinguished by the fused fingers of all the individual fruits in onehand. Abaniko means fan in Filipino. The Pastilan in southern Philippinesproduces two or more bunches of fruit per plant. Thailand is the origin of thenotoriously unstable Kluai Tiparot. This tetraploid cultivar can produce fruitbunches either with or without a male bud. Bunches with no male buds areupright and normally produce two hands of large-size fruits. Normal buncheswith male buds are pendant and produce five to seven hands of regular-sizefruits. Sometimes the rachis of a normal fruit bunch will split and produce twoor more male buds. Another unstable character is the red coloration of thecultivar Morado. Aside from variations in color intensity, the red color of theentire plant occasionally reverts back to green. The interesting “cultivar” ofVietnam is Chuoi Hot Qua Lep, a balbisiana clone with many soft, abortedseeds cultivated in backyards for multifarious household uses. The leaves areused as wrapping material, male bud is cooked as vegetable or eaten fresh invarious salad preparations, and the pseudostems are fed to animals. Chuoi HotQua Lep is in transition from natural, wild balbisiana species to a horticulturalbalbisiana variety through human selection.

The curators of national banana variety collections of Southeast Asia are holdersof the original and authentic accessions of Southeast Asian Musa germplasm.They offer assistance in the proper identification of banana cultivars that originatedfrom the region. They also recommend the development and adoption of areferral system wherein banana taxonomists from the other regions of the worldcould get advice on the correct identity of banana varieties from the concernednational curator.

The banana taxonomists of Southeast Asia recommend the identification ofsynonyms that exist in the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmarand possibly China. Equal importance should be given to the problem of synonymyin the South Pacific. The participation of a national curator in Southeast Asia issuggested to facilitate the eventual integration of banana cultivar names andsynonyms in Asia and the Pacific.


References

Cheesman, J. 1948. Classification of the bananas. III. Critical Notes onSpecies. (c ) Musa paradisiaca Linn. and Musa sapientum Linn.Kew Bull. No. 2. pp. 145-154.

Dang, L.D., H.H. Nhi and R.V. Valmayor. 1998. Banana collection,characterization and conservation in Vietnam. INFO-MUSA. 7(1):10-13.

Espino, R.R.C. and R.B. Pimentel. 1990. Electrophoretic analysis of selectedisozymes in BB-cultivars of Philippine bananas. In: Jarret, R.L. Ed.Proc. Identification of Genetic Diversity in the Genus Musa. INIBAP,Parc Scientifique Agropolis, Montpellier, France, pp. 36-40.

Greuter, W. (ed.) 1994. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. KoeltzScientific Books, D-61453 Konigstein, Germany.

IBPGR. 1984. Revised Banana Descriptors. IBPGR Secretariat, Rome.

IPGRI-INIBAP/CIRAD. 1996. Descriptors for Banana (Musa spp.). INIBAP,Parc Scientifique Agropolis, Montpellier, France.

Jamaluddin, S.H. 1986. Characterization, evaluation and utilization of the bananagermplasm in Malaysia. In: Chan, Y.K. and Raveendranathan, P., Eds.Prosid. Simp. Buahbuahan Keb., MARDI, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,pp. 315-329.

Jarret, R.L. 1990. Molecular methods for detecting genetic diversity in Musa.In: Jarret, R.L. Ed. Proc. Identification of Genetic Diversity in theGenus Musa. INIBAP, Parc Scientifique Agropolis, Montpellier, France,pp. 56-66.

Karamura, D.A. 1998. Numerical Taxonomic Studies of the East AfricanHighland Bananas (Musa AAA-East Africa) in Uganda. The Universityof Reading.

Kusumo, S. and F.A. Bahar. 1994. Koleksi, konservasi, evaluasi dan utilisasiPlasma Nutfah Pisang. Pusat Penelitian Dan PengembanganHorticultura. Jakarta.

Lanaud, C. 1990. Use of molecular markers to increase understanding of plantdomestication and to improve the management of genetic resources;some examples with tropical species. Plant Genetic ResourcesNewsletter. No. 119. pp. 26-31.


Pascua, O.C. 1990. A tentative key to Philippine bananas. In: Jarret, R.L. Ed.Proc. Identification of Genetic Diversity in the Genus Musa. INIBAP,Parc Scientifique Agropolis, Montpellier, France, pp. 67-75.

Pascua. O.C., M.C. Sabornido and N.D. Beltran. 1984. Philippine bananacultivars: their morphological and agronomic characters. IBPGR-RECSEA Newsletter 8(4): 10-17.

Satuhu, S. and A. Supriyadi. 1993. Pisang, budidaya, pengolahan, dan prospekpasar. Penebar Swadaya, Jakarta.

Silayoi, B. and C. Babprasert. 1983. Banana Genetic Resources Explorationin Thailand. Kasertsart University, Bangkok.

Silayoi, B. and N. Chomchalow. 1987. Cytotaxonomic and morphological studiesof Thai banana cultivars. In: Persley, G.J. and De Langhe, E.A., Eds.,Proc. Banana and Plantain Breeding Strategies. ACIAR Proc. No.21. Canberra.

Simmonds, N.W. and K. Shepherd. 1955. The taxonomy and origins of thecultivated banana. J. Linn. Soc. (Botany) 55:302-312.

Trehane, P. (ed.) 1995. International Code of Nomenclature for CultivatedPlants. Quarterjack Publishing, Wimborne, UK.

Valmayor, R.V., F.N. Rivera and F.M. Lomuljo. 1981. Philippine Banana CultivarNames and Synonyms. IPB. Bull. No. 3, University of the Philippinesat Los Baños.

Valmayor, R.V., B. Silayoi, S.H. Jamaluddin, S. Kusumo, R.R. Espino and O.C.Pascua. 1991. Banana Classification and Commercial Cultivars inSoutheast Asia. PCARRD Info. Bull. No. 24. Los Baños, Laguna.

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