Banana

Introduction to Banana

Banana is one of the tropical regions plants, whose main homeland is North-Eastern India. They have been spread through Madagascar to African countries before history. Banana is cultivated and produced commercially in some semi-tropical areas such as Australia, Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, Palestine and South Florida.

Banana is considered one of the most important fruit that is cultivated in 130 countries of the world. Also, Banana has great nutritional and medicinal value. Banana helps people who have high blood pressure and reduces the risk of heart attacks. Also, this fruit heals chronic stomach ulcers and reduces cholesterol. Potassium exists in banana which regulates blood circulation.

History

The origin of banana is from Southeast Asia, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is believed that banana was spread to Africa in prehistoric times. New evidence shows that bananas were introduced to the New World (Ecuador) around 200 BC by the people of Southeast Asia.

And the people of Portugal first transferred the banana to the Canary Island; the Spain first moved the banana to the Hispaniola Island during the 1500s.

The high sensitivity of banana to frost prevented banana from spreading in some humid subtropical areas.

Banana is commercially grown in some semi-tropical areas such as Australia, Morocco, South Africa, Egypt, Palestine, Canary Island and South Florida.

Banana is cultivated in some areas in a plastic tunnel or a building covered by glass. In 2003, India produced almost 23% of the world's bananas, most of which were for domestic consumption.

The four major banana exporting countries are Ecuador, Costa Rica, Philippines, and Colombia, which export 2/3 of the world's bananas, and each of them exports more than (1) million tons of bananas.

According to the statistics (FAO), Ecuador exports more than 30% of bananas to the world.

Banana type (dessert banana) which is yellow is completely ready to eat, while green banana is for cooking, the majority of the dessert variety and 10-15% of all production is exported to the United States. Banana production and cultivation is a major occupation for millions of people in developed countries.

 Green banana (unripe) is used for cooking in tropical countries. The green banana variety is very similar to potatoes. This banana is used fried, boiled, baked, and chipped. A green banana has the same amount of starch and energy as a potato.

 

Banana Morphology

This herb is a plant that belongs to the Musa genus, and the taxonomy of the herb is as follows:

Kingdom:             Planate

Division:               Magnoliophyta

Class:                     Liliopsid

Order:                   Zingiberales

Family:                  Musaceae

Bananas are sometimes mistakenly called trees because of their large size and structure. Bananas belong to the Musaceae family and are closely related to plantains. In terms of human consumption in the world, it is considered in the fourth row after rice, wheat, and sorghum. Banana is found in 130 countries of the world more than other fruit seasons and banana is native to the tropical region of Southeast Asia.

The stem of banana is called (pseudostem) which reaches (2-8m) in height when fully matured, and the length of the leaves reaches (3-5m), which is related to the variety. Before the stem is destroyed and another stem grows in its place, each fake stem produces only one fruit horn.

At the base of the plant is a rhizium (which is known as corm). The corm is several years old and produces sugar for up to (15) years or more.

The hanging cluster is called "bunch", which is called "bananastem" in the trade, and can weigh (30-35 kg) on average (125 gr), the fruit has approximately 75% water and 25% dry matter, banana is a good source (vita A ,vit C) and potassium.

 

Botanical Properties of Banana

The scientific name of the banana (Musa balbisian) and its genus (Musa) and its family (Musaceae) are among the tropical plants. Its main homeland is North-Eastern India and it has spread to African countries through Madagascar. Edible varieties include banana (Musa acumminata, Musa balbisiana) which has 22 pairs of chromosomes and triploid (33=22) also has triploid (2n=33) numbers.

The first edible bananas of variety Acuminta were obtained after crossbreeding between Acuminita and Lebzin varieties, diploid and triploid varieties, which are widely cultivated today. Commercial banana clones include (Grus michel, Gawaendish, Dawarf gawandish). They have the appearance of commercial tubers (triploid) and virgin fruit.

The tubers contain a rhizome and a root system, and the roots penetrate 75 cm deep into the soil and have a wide spread.

The main trunk of the banana is very short and is placed in the soil. Its fake trunk is outside the soil and it is obtained from the assembly of long stems.

The height of the false trunk is between 1.5 and 2.5 in comparison to different cultivars.

The arrangement of leaves in the aerial trunk depends on the branching of the leaves from the buds of the true trunk, and the first leaves formed in a circular form and the subsequent branches are placed in a spiral form on the true trunk. The leaves of the aerial core of the banana have fibrous fibers, the leaves of the banana are very large, the length of the banana is about (2) meters and its width is (60-90) cm.

 

Banana varieties

There are many cultivars of banana, the cultivars of its parents are:

(Musa acuminate, Musa balbisiana. These two types of pods are wild and usually have seeds.

In general, bananas that are produced with a large proportion of Acuminta type, their fruits are sweet, and those that are produced with a large proportion of Lebsinia type, their fruits have a lot of starch.

The relative composition of Ecuminita cultivars and Lebsina cultivars with Dicker cultivars is usually shown as (As) and (Bs) respectively. It is also divided based on the presence of one or more chromosomes (called ploidy level). For example: A B is diploid, AAB is triploid and ABBB is tetraploid.

The unusual tetraploid cultivars, the somewhat common diploid cultivars, and the more common triploid cultivars have a special commercial value.

Commercial banana clones include (Grus michel, Gawendish, Dawarf cawandish). Commercial bananas are triploid and have virgin fruit.

Some of the banana cultivars that are cooked are as follows:

Bluggoe, Hua mua, Pisang awak, Abukeling, Appleplantian, Ice cream, Pleipita, Saba, Cardaba.

There are many other cultivars, some of which have commercial value in Home Landscaping are listed below:

Lady's finger, Honey, Datil, Governor, Enano, Jowason, Giant Cavendish, Apple, Farine France.

 

Banana Reproduction

The commercial varieties of banana are seedless and the propagation method is vegetative. Banana plant has been cultivated in some areas for years, and the plant that was grown and grown in Banana last year is called (ratoons).

The underground stems of the rhizome rise from the ground in the form of suckers, some of which are used for ratoons and some of them are used together with the roots.

One meter long suckers with narrow stems are usually ready for reproductions are called sword suckers.

Water suckers (water suckers) are not used in their propagation, because their fruit is produced in terms of quality and earlier.

The new plant is planted in February and March and also in the months with monsoon rains. The distance between seedlings is (2-3) meters, which is related to their different varieties and types, and related to environmental conditions.

Pseudo stem is a monocarpic plant that is cut off after 9-12 months of cultivation and harvest.

The main propagation in the banana is done by the rhizome and sucker; sucker in the banana is divided into three parts:

1-Maiden head:

The main pseudo stem that it does not gives fruit, and its length is (1-12) inches. It turns out that later it develops into sword suckers or water suckers.

2-Sword suckers:

They are suckers that are connected to the main (mother) rhizome and have narrow sword-like branches, and their length reaches (12-48) inches and is usually used for propagation.

3-Water suckers:

The branches are close but superficially connected to the main rhizome and have wide branches. The branches produce secondary fruits and therefore are not recommended for cultivation.

 

Climate

Banana is one of the tropical fruits that are produced and cultivated only in tropical, humid and frost-free regions of the world. Dry air and strong and strong winds are destructive for banana. Average monthly temperature for banana (26-27) centigrade and coldness difference between hot and cold seasons is less.

In areas where the monthly rainfall is (100) milliliters, this plant does not need irrigation. Banana is grown between the 30 latitudes of the northern and southern hemispheres.

And outside of the above-mentioned geographic latitudes, it is possible to grow bananas in microclimates that have favorable conditions. The minimum temperature for the growth of this plant is (12C) and the temperature (2-3C) is the minimum critical solution temperature and the temperature is lower than (1C). The aerial organs of the tree are destroyed.

Irrigation

Banana needs a lot of water and is sensitive to drought. As a result of drought, the time of fruiting and fruiting becomes longer and the size of the fruit and yield in the season changes.

For the production and normal growth of a banana, 4-6 inches or 152-102 millimeters of water is needed in a month, and 1.5-1.5 inches or 4-2.5 cm per week is necessary for a banana. It is considered necessary, especially during long periods of dry weather.

From this point of view, soils that have sufficient moisture are useful for banana production, and for this reason, during the dry months of the year, the previous supply of water in the banana is considered necessary, especially during the opening of the whole and during the summer days, and caution is also necessary. It is considered essential in irrigation.

Banana is very sensitive to continuous and wet soils and soils with insufficient drainage, and it would soon be destroyed by flooding.

 

Environmental factors

Heat:

A number of 200-500 roots or rhizomes rise from the rhizome in deep, well-drained soils rich in fertilizers. The roots can be (5) feet deep (1.5 meters) and 16 feet or (4.9 meters) lateral.

Banana can continue its development in the same moderate to warm weather, the buds develop well between 26-28 centigrade or (78-82 Fahrenheit).

And the fruit can develop well between 29-30 degrees Celsius or (84-86 Fahrenheit) while the banana plant has a slow development.

At a temperature lower than 16 centigrade or (60 Fahrenheit) and at a temperature of 10 centigrade or (50 Fahrenheit) it stops its development. Even if the temperature is (-2) centigrade or 28 degrees Fahrenheit, it may destroy the plant and its ground stem.

If the new plant can grow again after the air becomes warm, the temperature above 98 degrees Fahrenheit or (37 centigrade) may affect the leaves and the new emergence of the leaves.

Wind:

Wind is one of the essential elements in tropical production areas, air and areas that have constant winds may play a role in drying and breaking leaves.

The drying of the branches and the falling of the crown of the plant takes place in winds above 25 mph, and the winds of 45 mph cause the tall and spreading cultivars to fall.

Saline soils:

Banana plant does not produce in salty soils. The negative effects and damages of salt include yellowing, dying, narrowing of the edges of the stems, and the deformation of its fruit.

Altitude above sea level:

The height above sea level is related to its climate and area.

Banana plant is grown at 6562 feet (2000 m) above sea level.

Soil:

Banana grows well in soils with a slope of 0-1%, well-drained soils, deep soils, rich soils with organic matter and a pH of 5.5-7.6. The most important factor in the soil is deep drainage and richness of the soil.

 

The Nutritional Value of Banana

Banana treatment helps people with high blood pressure and also reduces the risk of heart attacks. Banana heals chronic stomach ulcers and lowers cholesterol.

The miracle ingredient in bananas is potassium, which regulates blood circulation. The effects of potassium are very strong. Scholars say that adding potassium to people's daily food causes blood pressure to drop, and when potassium is removed from their diet, blood pressure rises.

A research conducted in Naples, Italy shows that 81% of people with high blood pressure use 3 to 6% high potassium substances such as bananas, their treatment rate is halved and some completely stop.