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).
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia4
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.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 5
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
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia6
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).
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 7
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.
.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia8
Tab
le 3
. B
anan
a cu
ltiv
ar n
ames
an
d s
ynon
yms
in S
outh
east
Asi
a.S
pec
ies,
Gen
ome
Ph
ilip
pin
esM
alay
sia
Ind
ones
iaT
hai
lan
dV
ietn
amIn
tern
atio
nal
Am
asP
isan
g M
asP
isan
g M
asK
luai
Kha
iC
huoi
Tru
ng
Suc
rier
Kin
amay
Dal
aga
Pis
ang
Pin
ang
Pis
ang
Pin
ang
Klu
ai L
ep M
u N
ang
Vei
nte
Coh
olP
isan
g M
asam
Pis
ang
Mas
amK
luai
Hom
Th
ong
Son
Tud
lo D
atu
Pis
ang
Jari
Bua
yaP
isan
g Ja
ri B
uaya
Chu
oi T
ieu
Jari
Bua
yaT
udlo
Tum
baga
Pis
ang
Kol
eC
huoi
Tay
But
Pam
oti-
onC
huoi
Cau
Tra
ngM
oron
g P
rin
cesa
Pis
ang
Gad
isK
luai
Th
ong
Rua
ng
Chu
oi N
gu T
hoc
Lon
sin
gP
isan
g L
idi
Bat
a-B
ata
Klu
ai S
aC
huoi
Ngu
Tie
nM
anan
gK
luai
Hom
Jan
Raw
ari
Pis
ang
Per
ecet
Inar
niba
lP
isan
g E
mpa
t P
uluh
Har
iP
isan
g L
ampu
ng
Mam
a-on
Pis
ang
Lem
ak M
anis
Ter
enga
nu
Pis
ang
Lem
ak M
anis
Pis
ang
Lem
ak M
anis
Kel
anta
nP
isan
g M
uli
Pis
ang
Lil
inP
isan
g L
ilin
Pis
ang
Mas
Sag
ura
Klu
ai T
hon
g K
i M
aew
Mu
sa a
cum
inat
aD
iplo
id A
A(d
esse
rt)
Pis
ang
Eko
r K
uda
Klu
ai T
hon
g K
ap D
amP
ogpo
gon
Chu
oi T
ien
Dip
loid
AA
(du
al p
urp
ose,
con
sum
ed e
ith
erfr
esh
or
cook
ed)
Ala
swe
Pis
ang
Kap
asP
isan
g K
apas
Lak
atan
1P
isan
g B
eran
gan
Kun
ing
Pis
ang
Bar
anga
nK
unin
gK
luai
Hom
Mae
wL
akat
anD
iplo
id/t
rip
loid
AA
/AA
A(d
esse
rt)
Lak
atan
1P
isan
g B
eran
gan
Mer
ahP
isan
g B
aran
gan
Mer
ahK
luai
Nga
ng
Ph
aya
Lak
atan
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 9
Sula
y B
agui
oPi
sang
Ser
enda
hPi
sang
Bad
akK
luai
Hom
Khi
eoK
hom
Chu
oi T
ieu
Lun
Dw
arf
Cav
endi
sh,
Ena
noT
umok
Pisa
ng C
ina
Pisa
ng A
mbo
n H
ijau
Klu
ai K
hlon
g C
hang
Chu
oi T
ieu
Nho
Gia
nt C
aven
dish
,G
ran
Ena
noT
udok
Pisa
ng B
uai
Pisa
ng A
mbo
n Pu
tihC
huoi
Tie
u X
anh
Rob
usta
Buñ
gula
nPi
sang
Mas
ak H
ijau
Pisa
ng A
mbo
nL
umut
Klu
ai H
om K
hieo
Chu
oi T
ieu
Cao
#1
Tal
l Cav
endi
sh,
Lac
atan
Gra
nde
Nai
nePi
sang
Am
bon
Jepa
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
Hija
u2Pi
sang
Tel
orK
luai
Kun
g K
hieo
Gre
en R
ed, R
ojo
Ver
de, M
orad
oV
erde
Om
aPi
sang
Am
ping
Pisa
ng A
mpy
ang
Pisa
ng P
otho
Wan
giK
luai
Kha
i Bon
gC
huoi
Bom
Mus
a ac
umin
ata
Tri
ploi
d A
AA
(des
sert
),(C
aven
dish
)
(non
-Cav
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
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia10
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
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 11
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
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a’ta
Chu
oi N
anh
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Chu
oi C
om L
aoC
huoi
La
Nan
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ien
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itC
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sa x
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(des
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Hil
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pen
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Klu
ai K
hom
Klu
ai N
om S
aoC
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Man
Tri
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(du
al p
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ara
Pis
ang
Ger
aksa
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alon
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Chu
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ay B
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Chu
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iem
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urac
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Pop
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oP
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astr
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1 S
omet
imes
eat
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ooke
d.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia12
Mu
sa x
par
adis
iaca
Tri
plo
id A
BB
(du
al p
urp
ose)
Pit
ogo
Klu
ai N
amw
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luai
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wa
Kha
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wa
Kh
om
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iang
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AB
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ook
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Mok
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g U
suk
Klu
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Chu
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am
Tet
rap
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(coo
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luai
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ook
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(see
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ult
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Chu
oi H
ot Q
ua L
ep2
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plo
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BB
(coo
kin
g)B
igih
anIn
aban
iko
Mun
doS
aba
sa H
apon
Mu
sa f
ehi
Pis
ang
Ton
gkat
Lan
git
Kun
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r
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any
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rapp
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eria
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bud
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ook
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s ve
geta
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or e
aten
fre
sh i
n va
riou
s sa
lad
prep
arat
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s, p
seud
oste
ms
are
fed
to
anim
als,
fru
its
wit
h se
eds
eate
n fr
esh.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 13
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.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia14
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
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 15
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
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia16
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
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 17
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.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia18
References
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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.
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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.
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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.
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