Bananas and Food Security - Bioversity International

Asie - Pacifique / Asia - Pacific : P. Sundararaju
the soil, paddy-based cropping system, selecting the suckers and injecting Carbendazim
are effective measures in reducing the incidence.
Viral diseases
Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) is one of the serious problems and has devastated large
plantations. Collection of plants from disease-free area, timely rouging and sanitation
are effective in checking the incidence. Aphid vector viz. Pentalonia nigronervosa is
present in all the regions and even the virus-free material does not remain free for long
time due to secondary infection. Tetrazolium test has been found effective in detecting
the virus.
Banana streak virus (BSV) is present in all the banana-growing regions on Poovan
cultivar. The symptom expression is highly influenced by weather conditions and
becomes severe in ratoon crops. The mealy bug (Planococcus citri) transmits the
pathogen in a semi-persistant manner. The disease is a cause of concern, as it is
spreading to other cultivars. In vitro plants have more incidence of this disease.
Kokkan disease of Nendran banana reported from Kerala in 1966 continued to be a
riddle, a disease of unknown etiology, which was identified as banana bract mosaic virus
(BBTV). The characteristic symptoms of the disease are spindle-shaped pattern in
unusually red coloured pseudostem, dark streak on petiole base, reddish streaks on
bracts and undersized unfilled fruits with an ultimate loss of yield. This disease is widely
prevalent on Monthan group of banana in all the southern states. Use of disease free
planting material, rouging of infested plants and sanitation are recommended for the
management of this disease.
Postharvest technology and value
added products
Methods of safe handling, storage and transport of banana have been worked out.
Bunches are harvested at 90% maturity for the local markets and 75% maturity for
distant markets. Hydro-cooling, use of ethylene absorbent and packing with polythene
wrapping increased green shelf-life. Storage and transport at 12-14 o C improved the shelflife.
Pre-treatment for postharvest diseases is also recommended. Slow ripening at 20 o C
through the use of ethylene helped in development of excellent colour. Banana can be
processed in different forms. Aseptically packed pulp has high demand for export.
Plantain is processed as chips. Banana puree is used in dairy products, bakery, beverage
and baby food. Banana flour is also becoming popular. More than 30 value added
products of banana are awaiting commercialisation.
Fruit maturity, grading packing and transport
Maturity, grading, packing and transport of banana in India are well reviewed. Banana
fruit bunch matures over a period of 90 to 150 days after shooting depending upon
cultivars and growing condition. Harvesting time is normally judged by changing shape of
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