The Genetic Potency of Plantain Agung Semeru Variety From Lumajang Regency East Java Indonesia

Abstract

Lumajang regency is one of the banana production centre in East Java having high- diversity of banana germ plasm. There are 33 cultivars of banana germ plasm in the regency, consist of eaten ripe and plantain. One of uniqe plantain used as the symbol of Lumajang regency is plantain Agung Semeru variety, the local superior variety of this regency. This variety can grow well at 450 – 650 m above sea level. The uniqueness of banana Agung Semeru variety can be seen by the number of sucker per cluster (only 1 – 2 suckers per cluster), the size of the finger (33 – 36 cm long and 19 cm around) and the number of hand per bunch (only 1 – 2 hand per bunch). Other characteristics of the variety are the thickness of fruit skin, the long period of fruit storage (3 – 4 weeks after harvesting) and the sweetness of fruit flesh. Even though the skin changes from yellow to black, the flesh still can be consumed, because it doesn’t become soft. This variety also resistant to the Sigatoka disease compared to other plantain cultivars.

Evaluating Provitamin A Carotenoids and Polar Metabolite Compositions during the Ripening Stages of the Agung Semeru Banana (Musa paradisiaca L. AAB)

“…Stages 3 to 7 occurred between days 6 and 11, which was considered a rapid change. A previous study [15] determined that the storage duration of the Agung Semeru plantains was around 3 to 4 weeks postharvest, as the flesh was not too tender and still edible, although the peel colour turned dark brown and black.…”

“…Agung Semeru grows well at 450-650 m above sea level. The characteristic of this plantain include the colour of its pseudostem (light red), the number of suckers per cluster (only 1-2 suckers per cluster), the size of the fingers (33-36 cm long and 19 cm around), the number of hands per bunch (only 1-2 hands per bunch), and a weight of~10-20 kg/bunch [14,15]. It has been cultivated only in East Java, Indonesia, especially in the Lumajang regency, on more than 553 hectares of land, with an average production of 28 000 tons per year.…”