Nutritional value of banana inflorescences, study about transfer mechanisms of iron across the placenta, and new cytogenetic studies of Lippia (Verbenaceae) species from Brazil

Abstract

The Musaceae comprise a clade of angiosperms that are typically found in tropic regions. Originally from Africa and Asia, this group of flowering plants has a worldwide distribution nowadays. The most important genus is Musa, popularly known as banana, and is cultivated in numerous countries (Kennedy 2009), albeit productivity can vary enormously (e.g., Moreira et al. 2010). It is still not quite clear how many species are referable to this genus, but some estimate that there are more than 70 species (Häkkinen and Väre 2008).