Musa×georgiana, a new intersectional hybrid banana with edible banana breeding relevance and ornamental potential

Abstract

Within the genus Musa (Musaceae) there are five sections. One of these sections is Musa (formerly called Eumusa), which possess predominately pendant inflorescences and are responsible for the production of edible bananas which are of great importance around the world as a food source. Another section of the genus Musa is Rhodochlamys. Most members of this section possess erect inflorescences with brightly colored bracts and are grown mainly for their ornamental value. Intersectional hybrids between the sections Musa and Rhodochlamys have been reported in the past but these hybrids were not characterized or described in any detail by the authors. In this manuscript a new intersectional hybrid banana, Musa×georgiana Rich. H. Wallace hyb. nov. grown in Richmond Hill, Georgia, USA is described and illustrated. The plant has as its maternal parent, Musa balbisiana, a member of M. sect. Musa and one of the seeded ancestors of edible bananas. The paternal parent is Musa velutina, a brightly coloured member of M. sect. Rhodochlamys, grown worldwide for its ornamental value. The resulting hybrid, M.×georgiana, provides useful information for banana breeding programs around the world and has ornamental potential as well. In light of the pest and disease pressure edible bananas are experiencing, the incorporation of genetic resources from other members of the genus is becoming increasingly important in the development of new hybrid edible bananas. A comparison of the characteristics of M.×georgiana with those of the parent species is provided.

Genetic variability of banana with ornamental potential

“…& Drude, M. ornata Roxb., Bronze and Royal. All of them belong to the section Rhodochlamys, whose great ornamental potential has already been recognized in other countries (Häkkinen and Sharrock 2002;Häkki-nen 2001Häkki-nen , 2004Häkki-nen , 2007Häkkinen and Väre 2008;Wallace and Häkkinen 2009). The inflorescence of these genotypes is erect, the fruits and bracts present attractive colors that range from light green, light pink, violet-pink and salmon.…”

Selection and Use Recommendation in Hybrids of Ornamental Banana

“…Positive results in hybridizations aiming to achieve ornamental banana trees have been described by Wallace et al (2007) and Wallace and Häkkinen (2009) involving Musa balbisiana Colla ( Musa ), and Musa velutina H. Wendl. & Drude ( Rhodochlamys ), which resulted in the crossbreed Musa × georgiana Rich.…”

“…Positive results in hybridizations aiming to achieve ornamental banana trees have been described by Wallace et al (2007) and Wallace and Häkkinen (2009) Simmonds (1962), Drysdale (1988), and Shepherd (1999), with the use of diff erent parents and diff erent sections. However, the hybrids achieved were not targeted for ornamental purposes but for reproductive and cytogenetic studies.…”

“…This genetic variability, however, is still underexplored, in spite of the potential of these plants to generate several products, mainly fiber for the manufacture of rustic material, such as ropes, textiles, and packaging (Whistler, 2000; Uma et al, 2006; Kennedy, 2009), and food, beverage, animal forage, medicinal, pharmaceutical products, crafts, and dyes (Uma et al, 2006; Kennedy, 2009). These plants also present great ornamental potential (Häkkinen, 2007; Uma et al, 2006; Fonsah et al, 2004, 2008; Santos‐Serejo et al, 2007; Wallace et al, 2007; Krewer et al, 2008; Häkkinen and Väre, 2008; Wallace and Häkkinen, 2009).…”