The banana is the world’s oldest and most widely consumed fruit. It is a member of the Musa genus (family Musaceae). The banana is cultivated primarily for food and secondarily for the production of textile fiber.
Grand Naine Bananas(G9) is one of the most cultivated banana varieties the world over. This variety of bananas is produced in large quantities all over India through the process of tissue culture. Tissue culture is a method of propagation that involves cloning a single cell or plant material in a culture medium under sterile conditions. Corms, suckers, and sword suckers are used as beginning materials for bananas. Initiation, multiplication, rooting, and acclimation are the four processes in the tissue culture method.
The G9 variety of bananas is the most popular for the purpose of cultivation among farmers. It is a high-yielding Cavendish variety that was brought to India from Israel in 1995 and put to commercial use. Every year, over 5 million TC plantlets of G9 are planted in roughly 17% of India’s total cultivated banana land.
Features of the G9 Banana Plant
- The plant reaches a maximum height of 6.5 to 7.5 feet.
- Tissue culture propagation allows the bunches to be harvested in eleven to twelve months from the date of seeding.
- Planting 1200 plants per acre with a 6 x 6-foot spacing is often suggested.
- Each bunch of these bananas will have 12 to 16 hands with 225 to 275 fruits.
- The fruit is 10.5-12 mm in length and 5.5-6 mm in diameter.
- Except for very sandy and heavy black soil with poor drainage, the G9 variety of bananas grows well in a wide range of soils. Banana plantations thrive in alluvial, clay-rich soil with plenty of organic carbon and well-drained soil. 40-45 tonnes per acre is the average production.
- The G9 Banana variety’s fruits are wonderful to eat, and the fruit’s keeping quality is excellent.
Health Benefits of the G9 Banana
When it comes to promoting overall health and wellness, the G9 Banana is high in tryptophan, which has been shown to help you relax and heighten feelings of happiness. . G9 bananas are also reported to help with depression, anemia- because of the high iron level, and blood pressure- due to the fruit’s high potassium content and low salt content, as well as lowering the chance of stroke. Consuming this banana variety in the recommended amounts can also help to normalize blood sugar levels and neutralize acidity and gastric irritation. The G9 banana is more nutrient-dense than the Apple banana. Bananas have twice as many carbohydrates, three times as much phosphorus, four times as much protein, five times as much vitamin A, and five times as much iron as apples.
Tissue Culture and the G9 Banana
Banana tissue culture propagation is a common tissue culture practice. The plant can be cloned exactly like its mother plant, with no differences. Plants cultivated using the tissue culture approach can be disease-free in huge numbers, which can assist farmers in obtaining disease-free seedlings.
It can be grown at any time of year. As a result, obtaining a sample of banana tissue will not be difficult. The uniform maturity of the banana fruits facilitates harvesting and lowers labor costs.
The unique aspect of tissue culture banana propagation is that the crop matures earlier in the season.
Salient Features of the G9 Banana propagated through Tissue Culture
- Plant and fruit growth that is consistent
- Plants are disease-free and always in good health.
- Plantations produce a crop that is ready to harvest in 11 to 12 months.
- The higher yield results in higher profits for the farmers
- Planting of the G9 Banana can be done at any time of year.
Every year, roughly 5 million Tissue Culture G9 plantlets are planted in about 17% of India’s total cultivated banana land. It has a shorter ratooning time, is more productive, and is the most important commercial clone in the world since it produces enormous bunches and fingers and has a longer shelf life than native types.
Given the various benefits of the G9 Banana, it is available at HUG Biotech.