BANANA Varieties

 

Robusta (AAA) :
It is a semi-tall variety, grown mostly in Tamil Nadu and some parts of Karnataka for table purpose. 
Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. It is a high yielding and produces bunch of large size with well 
developed fruits. Dark green fruits turn bright yellow upon ripening depending on ripening conditions. 
Fruit is very sweet with a good aroma. Bunch weighs about 25-30 kg. Requires propping. Fruit has a 
poor keeping quality leading to a quick breakdown of pulp after ripening, hence not suited for long 
distance transportation. Robusta is highly susceptible to Sigatoka leaf spot disease in humid tropics.


Rasthali (Silk AAB) :
It is a medium tall variety commercially grown in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and 
Bihar. Its unique fruit quality has made Rasthali popular and a highly prized cultivar for table purpose. 
Fruits are yellowish green throughout their development, but turn pale yellow to golden yellow after 
ripening. Fruit is very tasty with a good aroma. Longer crop duration, severe susceptibility to Fusarium
wilt, requirement of bunch cover to protect fruits from sun cracking and formation of hard lumps in fruits 
make crop production more expensive.


Poovan (Mysore AAB) :
It is a leading commercial cultivar grown throughout the country with location specific ecotypes like 
palayankodan in Kerala, Poovan in Tamil Nadu, Karpura Chakkarakeli in Andhra Pradesh and Alpan in 
North Eastern Region. It is generally cultivated as a perennial crop. Tamil Nadu is the leading producer 
of Poovan cultivar owing to its climatic and marginal soil condition. Poovan is also commercially 
cultivated for leaf industry throughout Tamil Nadu and in certain parts of Kerala. Fruit is slightly acidic, 
firm and has typical sour-sweet aroma. Fruits turn to attractive golden yellow on ripening. Medium 
sized bunch, closely packed fruits, good keeping quality and resistant to fruit cracking is its plus points. 
But it is highly susceptible to Banana Bract Mosaic Viral (BBMV) disease and Banana Streak Virus, 
(BSV), which cause considerable reduction in yield. 

Red Banana (AAA) :
Red banana is the most relished and highly prized variety of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Its commercial 
cultivation is prominent in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts of Tamil Nadu. It is also popular in 
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and to some extent in Western and Central India. In Bihar and other 
regions, it is popular as Lal Velchi while in Karnataka as Chandra Bale. The colour of the pseudostem, 
petiole, midrib and fruit rind is purplish red. It is a robust plant with bunches weighing 20-30 kg under 
good management practices. Fruits are sweet, orange yellow coloured and with a pleasant aroma. It is 
highly susceptible to bunchy top, fusarium wilt and nematodes. 


Ney Poovan (AB) :
Ney Poovan is the choicest diploid cultivar, which is under commercial mono cultivation on a large 
scale especially in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Kerala It is grown in backyards and now shifting to 
large-scale cultivation. Ney Poovan is a slender plant bearing bunches of 15-30 kg after 12-14 months. 
Dark green fruits turn golden yellow with a very good keeping quality. Fruit is highly fragrant, tasty, 
powdery and firm. Ney Poovan is tolerant to leaf spot but susceptible to Fusarium wilt and banana bract 
mosaic virus.


Virupakashi (AAB):
It is an elite variety in South India especially grown for table purpose in Palani and Shevroy hills of 
Tamil Nadu under perennial cultivation. It is a vigorous and hardy variety though not a prolific one. 
Fruits show a typical curvature, possess a pleasant aroma and delightful taste. Virupakshi has the 
characteristic flavour only when they are cultivated in higher elevation. In the mixed cultivation it is well 
suited as a shade plant for young coffee. It has many ecotypes like 'Sirumalai' (grown on hills), 
'Vannan', 'Kali' etc. well suited for cultivation in plains. Perennial system of cultivation aggravates 
Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV).

Pachanadan (AAB) :
It is a popular variety in Tamil Nadu grown especially for its cooling effects in hot tracts in summer. The 
variety comes up well in marginal soils without any yield reduction. It is well suited as an intercrop in 
coconut/arecanut garden. The bunch weight ranges from 12-15 kg (after 11-12 months). Pachanadan 
could be used in the Nendran plantations for gap filling as it comes up for harvest along with Nendran. 
This variety is tolerant to leaf spot and Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) diseases, but susceptible to 
wilt disease.


Monthan (ABB) :
It is a widely cultivated variety for processing. Monthan is a fairly tall and robust plant bearing bunches 
of 18-20 kg after 12 months. Fruits are bold, stocky, knobbed and pale green in colour. The skin is 
usually green. The new prolific 'Monthan' type clones of economic value namely 'Kanchi Vazhai' and 
'Chakkia' are recently becoming popular in Tamil Nadu. Apart from its culinary use of fruits, 
pseudostem core is a highly relished vegetable with many medicinal properties. Monthan is also 
cultivated for production of leaves in Trichy and Tanjore districts of Tamil Nadu. It has many desirable 
qualities like immunity to Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) diseases, salt tolerance and normal bunch 
mass even under marginal condition, but it is highly susceptible to Fusarium wilt disease.


Karpuravalli (ABB) :
It is a popular variety grown for table purpose in medium rich soils. Its commercial cultivation is spread 
over in Central and Southern districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In Bihar, cultivation is in patches under 
the name 'Kanthali'. Karpuravalli is a tall, robust plant well suited to marginal lands and soils, produced 
under low input conditions. It is also the sweetest among Indian bananas. Karpuravalli is occasionally 
seeded depending on the seasonal variability. Its ash coated golden yellow and sweet fruits have good 
keeping quality. Karpuravalli is highly susceptible to wilt disease, tolerant to leaf spot disease and well 
suited for drought, salt affected areas and for low input conditions.

Safed Velchi  Musa (A B Group) :
This is considered a good quality fruit for table purpose and is cultivated in the Thane, Nasik districts 
of Maharashtra. It is grown under the shade of arecanut gardens in the South Kanara districts of 
Karanataka. This variety is mediumsized with slender yellowish green pseudostem and can be 
recognised by the reddish petiole margin, large fruits, very thin and papery rind and white firm flesh that 
is very sweet. The average bunch weight is about 12 kg with about 150 fruits/bunch. The duration of the 
variety is about 13 months.

Exotic Varieties  :
USA
Dwarf Cavendish, Giant Cavendish, Pisang masak hijau, Ice Cream, 'Enano Gigante, Macho, 
Orinoco.
Brazil
Robusta, Santa Catarina Silver, Brazilian.
China
Dwarf Cavendish
South Africa
Dwarf Cavendish, Golden Beauty
Australia
Robusta, Williams, Cocos, 
East Africa,Thailand
Bluggoe, Maricongo, Common Dwarf 
Philippines
Common Dwarf, Philippine Lakatan 
Taiwan
Giant Cavendish