Banana is the common name for a fruit and also the herbaceous plants of the genus Musa which produce the commonly eaten fruit. For Wikipedia aspects see WikipediaNaming conventions (common names, WikipediaNaming conventions, and WikipediaStyle manual. A herbaceous plant (or in botanical use a Herb) is a Plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic Musa is one of three Genera in the family Musaceae; it includes Bananas and Plantains There are over 50 Species of The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. They are native to the tropical region of Southeast Asia and Australia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Today, they are cultivated throughout the tropics. The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 ^[1]

Banana plants are of the family Musaceae. In Biological classification, family ( Latin Musaceae is a Botanical name for a family of Flowering plants. They are cultivated primarily for their fruit, and to a lesser extent for the production of fibre and as ornamental plants. As the bananas are mainly tall, upright, and fairly sturdy, they are often mistaken for trees, when the truth is the main or upright stem is called a pseudostem, literally meaning "fake stem", which for some species can obtain a height of up to 2–8 m, with leaves of up to 3. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. 5 m in length. Each pseudostem can produce a bunch of yellow, green, or even red bananas before dying and being replaced by another pseudostem.

The banana fruit grow in hanging clusters, with up to 20 fruit to a tier (called a hand), and 3-20 tiers to a bunch. The total of the hanging clusters is known as a bunch, or commercially as a "banana stem", and can weigh from 30–50 kg. The fruit averages 125 g, of which approximately 75% is water and 25% dry matter content. Each individual fruit (known as a banana or 'finger') has a protective outer layer (a peel or skin) with a fleshy edible inner portion. Both skin and inner part can be eaten raw or cooked. Western cultures generally eat the inside raw and throw away the skin while some Asian cultures generally eat both the skin and inside cooked. Typically, the fruit has numerous strings (called 'phloem bundles') which run between the skin and inner part. Bananas are a valuable source of vitamin B₆, vitamin C, and potassium. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble Vitamin. Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP is the active form and is a cofactor in many reactions of Amino acid metabolism including Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39

Bananas are grown in at least 107 countries. ^[2] In popular culture and commerce, "banana" usually refers to soft, sweet "dessert" bananas. The bananas from a group of cultivars with firmer, starchier fruit are called plantains. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the Bananas may also be cut and dried and eaten as a type of chip. Dried bananas are also ground into banana flour.

Although the wild species have fruits with numerous large, hard seeds, virtually all culinary bananas have seedless fruits. Seedless fruits are Fruits that have been developed to possess no seeds generally to make consumption easier and more convenient Bananas are classified either as dessert bananas (meaning they are yellow and fully ripe when eaten) or as green cooking bananas. Almost all export bananas are of the dessert types; however, only about 10-15% of all production is for export, with the United States and European Union being the dominant buyers. In Economics, an export is any good or Commodity, Transported from one country to another country in a Legitimate fashion The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in

Contents 1 Botany 2 Properties 3 Trade 4 History 4.1 Early cultivation 4.2 Plantation cultivation 5 Cultivation 6 Pests, diseases and natural disasters 6.1 Major diseases 6.1.1 In Australia 6.1.2 In East Africa 7 Allergic reactions 8 Fibre 8.1 Textiles 8.2 Paper 9 Storage and transport 10 Usage in culture 10.1 Peels 10.2 Arts 10.3 Symbols 11 Gallery 12 See also 12.1 Culinary usage 13 Footnotes 14 References 15 External links

Botany

The banana plant is a pseudostem that grows to 6 to 7. 6 metres (20-25 feet) tall, growing from a corm. A corm is a short vertical swollen underground Plant stem that serves as a Storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions Leaves are spirally arranged and may grow 2. 7 metres (9 ft) long and 60 cm (2 ft) wide. ^[3] The banana plant is the largest of all herbaceous plants. ^[4] A single, sterile, male banana flower, also known as the banana heart is normally produced by each stem (though on rare occasions more can be produced - a single plant in the Philippines has five^[5]). The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Banana hearts are used as a vegetable in Southeast Asia, steamed, in salads or eaten raw. ^[6] The female flowers are produced further up the stem and produce the actual fruit without requiring fertilization.

Properties

Banana, raw Nutritional value per 100 g (3. 5 oz)
Energy 90 kcal   370 kJ
Carbohydrates     22. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most 84 g - Sugars  12. 23 g - Dietary fiber  2. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that move food through the Digestive system, absorbing water and easing Defecation. 6 g   Fat 0. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water 33 g Protein 1. Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl 09 g Vitamin A equiv. Vitamin A refers to a family of similarly shaped molecules the Retinoids.  3 μg  0% Thiamin (Vit. B1)  0. For the similarly spelled pyrimidine see Thymine Thiamin or thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1 031 mg   2% Riboflavin (Vit. B2)  0. Riboflavin ( E101) also known as vitamin B2, is an easily absorbed Micronutrient with a key role in maintaining Health 073 mg   5% Niacin (Vit. B3)  0. Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin which prevents the deficiency disease Pellagra. 665 mg   4% Pantothenic acid (B5)  0. Pantothenic acid, also called Vitamin B5 (a B vitamin) is a water- Soluble vitamin required to sustain life ( 334 mg  7% Vitamin B6  0. Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble Vitamin. Pyridoxal phosphate (PLP is the active form and is a cofactor in many reactions of Amino acid metabolism including 367 mg 28% Folate (Vit. Folic acid (also known as Vitamin M and Folacin) and Folate (the Anionic form are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9 B9)  20 μg  5% Vitamin C  8. Vitamin C or L-ascorbate is an Essential nutrient for a large number of higher primate species a small number of other Mammalian 7 mg 15% Calcium  5 mg 1% Iron  0. Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 26 mg 2% Magnesium  27 mg 7%  Phosphorus  22 mg 3% Potassium  358 mg   8% Zinc  0. Magnesium is an essential element in biological systems. Magnesium occurs typically as the Mg2+ ion Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Potassium (pəˈtæsiəm is a Chemical element. It has the symbol K (kalium from qalīy Atomic number 19 and Atomic mass 39 Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 15 mg 1%
Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Reference Daily Intake (or Recommended Daily Intake ( RDI) is the daily dietary intake level of a nutrient which was considered (at the time they were defined to be sufficient Source: USDA Nutrient database

Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple and red. Bananas can be eaten raw though some varieties are generally cooked first. Depending upon cultivar and ripeness, the flesh can vary in taste from starchy to sweet, and texture from firm to mushy. Unripe or green bananas and plantains are used for cooking various dishes such as banana pudding and are the staple starch of many tropical populations. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the Starch, CAS # 9005-25-8 Chemical formula (C6H10O5n is a Polysaccharide The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 Banana sap is extremely sticky and can be used as a practical adhesive. Sap can be obtained from the pseudostem, from the fruit peelings, or from the fruit flesh.

Most production for local sale is of green cooking bananas and plantains, as ripe dessert bananas are easily damaged while being transported to market. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the Even when transported only within their country of origin, ripe bananas suffer a high rate of damage and loss.

The commercial dessert cultivars most commonly eaten in temperate countries (species Musa acuminata or the hybrid Musa × paradisiaca, a cultigen) are imported in large quantities from the tropics. In Biology, hybrid has two meanings The first meaning is the result of interbreeding between two animals or plants of different taxa. A cultigen is a plant that has been deliberately altered or selected by humans it is the result of Artificial selection. They are popular in part because, being a non-seasonal crop, they are available fresh year-round. In global commerce, by far the most important of these banana cultivars is 'Cavendish', which accounts for the vast bulk of bananas exported from the tropics. A cultivar is a cultivated Plant that has been selected and given a unique name because of its decorative or useful characteristics it is usually distinct from similar The Cavendish is the name for the Banana Cultivar used most commonly in the world banana trade The Cavendish gained popularity in the 1950s after the previously mass produced cultivar, Gros Michel, became commercially unviable due to Panama disease, a fungus which attacks the roots of the banana plant. Gros Michel, or 'Big Mike' was an early export Cultivar of Banana, and was until the 1950s the main variety exported to the United States. Fusarium oxysporum, also referred to as Panama disease or Agent Green, is a Fungus that causes Fusarium wilt disease in

The most important properties making 'Cavendish' the main export banana are related to transport and shelf life rather than taste; major commercial cultivars rarely have a superior flavour compared to the less widespread cultivars. Export bananas are picked green, and then usually ripened in ripening rooms when they arrive in their country of destination. These are special rooms made air-tight and filled with ethylene gas to induce ripening. Structure This Hydrocarbon has four Hydrogen Atoms bound to a pair of Carbon atoms that are connected by a Double bond. Bananas can be ordered by the retailer "ungassed", however, and may show up at the supermarket still fully green. While these bananas will ripen more slowly, the flavour will be notably richer, and the banana peel can be allowed to reach a yellow/brown speckled phase, and yet retain a firm flesh inside. Thus, shelf life is somewhat extended. The flavour and texture of bananas are affected by the temperature at which they ripen. Bananas are refrigerated to between 13. 5 and 15 °C (57 and 59 °F) during transportation. At lower temperatures, the ripening of bananas permanently stalls, and the bananas will eventually turn grey.

It should be noted that Musa × paradisiaca is also the generic name for the common plantain, a coarser and starchier variant not to be confused with Musa acuminata or the Cavendish variety. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the

In addition to the fruit, the flower of the banana plant (also known as banana blossom or banana heart) is used in Southeast Asian, Bengali and Kerala (India) cuisine, either served raw with dips or cooked in soups and curries. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also Bengali cuisine is a style of food preparation originating in Bengal, a region in the eastern South Asia which is now divided between the Indian state of Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The tender core of the banana plant's trunk is also used, notably in the Burmese dish mohinga, Bengali and Kerala cooking. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Mohinga ( mo̰ʊnhíngá is Rice vermicelli in fish soup and considered by many to be the national dish of Myanmar, formerly Burma Bananas fried with batter is a popular dessert in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Pisang Goreng ( fried banana in Malay / Indonesian) is a snack food mostly found throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Singapore The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Banana fritters can be served with ice-cream as well. Bananas are also eaten deep fried, baked in their skin in a split bamboo, or steamed in glutinous rice wrapped in a banana leaf in Myanmar where bunches of green bananas surrounding a green coconut in a tray is an important part of traditional offerings to the Buddha and the Nats. Glutinous rice ( Oryza sativa var glutinosa or Oryza glutinosa; also called sticky rice, sweet rice, waxy rice Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder The nats ( naʔ are spirits worshipped in Burma (or Myanmar in conjunction with Buddhism. The juice extract prepared from the tender core is used to treat kidney stones.

The leaves of the banana are large, flexible, and waterproof; they are used in many ways, including as umbrellas and to wrap food for cooking, carrying and packing cooked foods, and they are used to build houses in third world countries. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. "Parasol" redirects here For other uses see Umbrella (disambiguation, Umbrella (song or Parasol (disambiguation . In south India, food is traditionally served on banana leaves in homes and some restaurants also follow the practice. Some farmers prefer to grow banana plants only for their leaves. Chinese zongzi (bamboo leaves are more commonly used where available). China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Zong, or zongzi is a traditional Chinese food, made of Glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in Bamboo Mexican, and more specifically Oaxacan tamales and a local variety of lamb meat, or barbacoa tacos are often steamed in banana leaves, and the Hawaiian imu is often lined with them. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), in Spanish phonemically /oa'xaka/ named for its largest city, is one of the A tamale ( Spanish tamal, from Nahuatl tamalli) is a traditional indigenous American food consisting of steam-cooked corn Barbacoa generally refers to Meats or a whole Sheep slow cooked over an open fire or more traditionally in a hole dug in the ground covered with Maguey A taco ( is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a Maize or wheat Tortilla folded or rolled around a filling Steaming is a method of Cooking using Steam. Steaming is considered a relatively healthier cooking technique and capable to cook almost all kinds of food The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the Imu redirects here For the acronym see IMU. This article is about the Hawaiian cooking method Kalua Puerto Rican "pasteles" are boiled wrapped and tied inside the leaf. Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}}

Banana chips are a snack (and a healthy alternative to potato chips) produced from dehydrated or fried banana or, preferably, plantain slices, which have a dark brown colour and an intense banana taste. Banana chips are deep-fried and/or dried slices of Banana, covered with Sugar or Honey. Bananas have also been used in the making of jam. Unlike other fruits, it is difficult to extract juice from bananas because when compressed a banana simply turns to pulp.

Seeded bananas (Musa balbisiana), considered to be one of the forerunners of the common domesticated banana, are sold in markets in Indonesia.

It is reported that in Orissa, India, juice is extracted from the corm and used as a home remedy for the treatment of jaundice. Orissa (ଓଡ଼ିଶା is a state located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A corm is a short vertical swollen underground Plant stem that serves as a Storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions A home remedy is a treatment to cure a Disease or ailment that employs certain spices vegetables or other common items Jaundice, also known as icterus (attributive adjective "icteric" is yellowish discoloration of the Skin, sclerae (whites of the eyes In other places honey is mixed with mashed banana fruit and used for the same purpose. Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the

Trade

Top Banana Producing Nations - 2005 (in million metric tons)
India	16. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country 8
Brazil	6. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld 7
China	6. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES 4
Ecuador	5. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. 9
Philippines	5. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP 8
Indonesia	4. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. 5
Costa Rica	2. Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in 2
Mexico	2. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. 0
Thailand	2. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj 0
Colombia	1. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. 6
Burundi	1. Burundi (buˈɾundi officially the Republic of Burundi, is a small country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda 6
World Total	72. 5
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations[2]

Bananas and plantains constitute a major staple food crop for millions of people in developing countries. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Developing countries are countries that haven't reached Western-style standards of democratic government free market economy industrialization social programs and human rights guaranties In most tropical countries, green (unripe) bananas used for cooking represent the main cultivars. Cooking is the process of preparing Food by applying Heat, selecting measuring and combining of ingredients in an ordered procedure for producing safe and edible Cooking bananas are very similar to potatoes in how they are used. The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Both can be fried, boiled, baked or chipped and have similar taste and texture when served. Frying is the Cooking of food in Oil or Fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500BC Boiling (also called ebullition) a type of Phase transition, is the rapid vaporization of a Liquid, which typically occurs when a liquid Taste (or more formally gustation) is a form of direct Chemoreception and is one of the traditional five Senses One green cooking banana has about the same calorie content as one potato. This article is about the unit of energy For its use in Nutrition and Food labelling regulations, see the article on Food energy.

In 2003, India led the world in banana production, representing approximately 23% of the worldwide crop, most of which was for domestic consumption. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The four leading banana exporting countries were Ecuador, Costa Rica, Philippines, and Colombia, which together accounted for about two-thirds of the world's exports, each exporting more than 1 million tons. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Ecuador alone provided more than 30% of global banana exports, according to FAO statistics.

The vast majority of producers are small-scale farmers growing the crop either for home consumption or for local markets. A farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials Because bananas and plantains will produce fruit year-round, they provide an extremely valuable source of food during the hunger season (that period of time when all the food from the previous harvest has been consumed, and the next harvest is still some time away). The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the It is for these reasons that bananas and plantains are of major importance to food security. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it

Bananas are among the most widely consumed foods in the world. Most banana farmers receive a low unit price for their produce as supermarkets buy enormous quantities and receive a discount for that business. Competition amongst supermarkets has led to reduced margins in recent years which in turn has led to lower prices for growers. Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good Chiquita, Del Monte, Dole and Fyffes grow their own bananas in Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. Chiquita Brands International Inc ( is a Cincinnati Ohio -based producer and distributor of Bananas and other Produce, under a variety of Subsidiary Fresh Del Monte Produce ( is a major producer and distributor of Fruit and other agricultural products Dole Food Company Inc is an American -based Agricultural Multinational corporation headquartered in Westlake Village California and is Fyffes plc () is a fruit and fresh produce company headquartered at North Anne Street Dublin 7, Ireland. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. Banana plantations are capital intensive and demand high expertise, so the majority of independent growers are large and wealthy landowners of these countries. This has led to bananas being available as a "fair trade" item in some countries. Fair trade is an organized Social movement and market-based approach to empowering developing country producers and promoting sustainability

The banana has an extensive trade history beginning with the founding of the United Fruit Company (now Chiquita) at the end of the nineteenth century. The United Fruit Company was a major United States Corporation that traded tropical Fruit (primarily Bananas and Pineapples grown For much of the 20th century, bananas and coffee dominated the export economies of Central America. CoFFEE is an Open source Software for computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL in a digital classroom In the 1930s, bananas and coffee made up as much as 75% of the region's exports. As late as 1960, the two crops accounted for 67% of the exports from the region. Though the two were grown in similar regions, they tended not to be distributed together. The United Fruit Company based its business almost entirely on the banana trade, as the coffee trade proved too difficult for it to control. The United Fruit Company was a major United States Corporation that traded tropical Fruit (primarily Bananas and Pineapples grown The term "banana republic" has been broadly applied to most countries in Central America, but from a strict economic perspective only Costa Rica, Honduras, and Panama were actual "banana republics", countries with economies dominated by the banana trade. Banana Republic is a chain of mainly United States based clothing stores founded by Mel and Patricia Ziegler in 1978 as a travel-themed Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America.

The countries of the European Union have traditionally imported many of their bananas from the former European island colonies of the Caribbean, paying guaranteed prices above global market rates. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in As of 2005, these arrangements were in the process of being withdrawn under pressure from other major trading powers, principally the United States. The withdrawal of these indirect subsidies to Caribbean producers is expected to favour the banana producers of Central America, in which American companies have an economic interest.

The United States has minimal banana production. 14,000 tons of bananas were grown in Hawaii in 2001. ^[7] Bananas have also been grown in Florida. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the

History

Early cultivation

The domestication of bananas took place in southeastern Asia. Many species of wild bananas still occur in New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Recent archaeological and palaeoenvironmental evidence at Kuk Swamp in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea suggests that banana cultivation there goes back to at least 5000 BCE, and possibly to 8000 BCE. Kuk Swamp is an archaeological site in New Guinea. Evidence for early agricultural Drainage systems was found here beginning about 9000 years ago ^[8] This would make the New Guinean highlands the place where bananas were first domesticated. It is likely that other species of wild bananas were later also domesticated elsewhere in southeastern Asia.

The banana may have been present in isolated locations of the Middle East on the eve of the rise of Islam. There is some textual evidence that the prophet Muhammad was familiar with it. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics The spread of Islam, was followed by the far reaching diffusion of bananas. The Spread of Islam began shortly after the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 632. There are numerous references to it in Islamic texts (such as poems and hadiths) beginning in the ninth century. Hadith ( ar الحديث, pl aḥadīth; lit. "narrative" are oral Traditions relating to the words and deeds of the Islamic By the tenth century the banana appears in texts from Palestine and Egypt, from it diffused into north Africa and Muslim Spain. Al-Andalus (الأندلس was the Arabic name given to those parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims or In fact, during the medieval ages, bananas from Granada were considered amongst the best in the Arab world. Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous region of Andalusia, Spain. ^[9]

Some recent discoveries of banana phytoliths in Cameroon dating to the first millennium BCE ^[10] have triggered an as yet unresolved debate about the antiquity of banana cultivation in Africa. A phytolith ("plant stone" is a rigid microscopic body that occurs in many Plants The most common type of phytolith is the Silicon phytolith also called The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central and western Africa. There is linguistic evidence that bananas were already known in Madagascar around that time. Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic) is an Island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern ^[11] The earliest evidence of banana cultivation in Africa before these recent discoveries dates to no earlier than late 6th century AD. ^[12] Muslim Arabs likely brought bananas from the east coast of Africa west to the Atlantic coast and further south to Madagascar. ^[9]

The banana is mentioned for the first time in written history in Buddhist texts in 600 BCE. Alexander the Great discovered the taste of the banana in the valleys of India in 327 BCE. The existence of an organized banana plantation could be found in China in 200 CE. In 650, Islamic conquerors brought the banana to Palestine. The word banana is of West African origin, and passed into English via Spanish or Portuguese. ^[13]

Plantation cultivation

In 15th and 16th century, Portuguese colonists started banana plantations in the Atlantic Islands, Brazil, and western Africa. As late as the Victorian Era, bananas were not widely known in Europe, although they were available via merchant trade. Jules Verne references bananas with detailed descriptions so as not to confuse readers in his book Around the World in Eighty Days (1872). Jules Gabriel Verne ( February 8 1828 &ndash March 24 1905) was a French Author who pioneered the science-fiction Around the World in Eighty Days (Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours is a classic Adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first

In the early 20th cenntury, bananas began forming the basis of large commercial empires, exemplarized by the United Fruit Company, which created immense banana plantation especially in Central and South America. The United Fruit Company was a major United States Corporation that traded tropical Fruit (primarily Bananas and Pineapples grown These were usually extremely commercially exploitative, and the term "Banana republic" was coined for states like Honduras and Guatemala, representing the fact that "servile dictatorships" were created and abetted by these companies and their political backers, for example in the USA. Banana Republic is a chain of mainly United States based clothing stores founded by Mel and Patricia Ziegler in 1978 as a travel-themed ^[14]

Cultivation

While the original bananas contained rather large seeds, triploid (and thus seedless) cultivars have been selected for human consumption. Polyploidy occurs in cells and Organisms when there are more than two homologous sets of Chromosomes. These are propagated asexually from offshoots of the plant. Asexual reproduction is a form of reproduction which does not involve Meiosis, Ploidy reduction or Fertilization. The plant is allowed to produce 2 shoots at a time; a larger one for fruiting immediately and a smaller "sucker" or "follower" that will produce fruit in 6–8 months time. The life of a banana plantation is 25 years or longer, during which time the individual stools or planting sites may move slightly from their original positions as lateral rhizome formation dictates.

Cultivated bananas are parthenocarpic, which makes them sterile and unable to produce viable seeds. In Botany and Horticulture, parthenocarpy (literally meaning virgin fruit is the natural or artificially induced production of fruit without fertilization of Lacking seeds, another form of propagation is required. This involves removing and transplanting part of the underground stem (called a corm). Usually this is done by carefully removing a sucker (a vertical shoot that develops from the base of the banana pseudostem) with some roots intact. However, small sympodial corms, representing not yet elongated suckers, are easier to transplant and can be left out of the ground for up to 2 weeks; they require minimal care and can be boxed together for shipment.

In some countries, bananas are commercially propagated by means of tissue culture. This method is preferred since it ensures disease-free planting material. When using vegetative parts such as suckers for propagation, there is a risk of transmitting diseases (especially the devastating Panama disease).

Pests, diseases and natural disasters

Main article: List of banana and plantain diseases

While in no danger of outright extinction, the most common edible banana cultivar 'Cavendish' (extremely popular in Europe and the Americas) could become unviable for large-scale cultivation in the next 10-20 years. Its predecessor 'Gros Michel', discovered in the 1820s, has already suffered this fate. Like almost all bananas, it lacks genetic diversity, which makes it vulnerable to diseases, which threaten both commercial cultivation and the small-scale subsistence farming. ^[15][16] Some commentators have further remarked that those variants which could replace what much of the world considers a "typical banana" are so different that most people would not consider them the same fruit, and blame the decline of the banana on monogenetic cultivation driven by short-term commercial exploitation motives. ^[14]

Major diseases

Major afflictions of bananas include:

• Panama Disease (Race 1) – fusarium wilt (a soil fungus). Fusarium oxysporum, also referred to as Panama disease or Agent Green, is a Fungus that causes Fusarium wilt disease in Fusarium oxysporum, also referred to as Panama disease or Agent Green, is a Fungus that causes Fusarium wilt disease in Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel A fungus (ˈfʌŋgəs is a eukaryotic Organism that is a member of the kingdom Fungi (ˈfʌndʒaɪ The fungus enters the plants through the roots and moves up with water into the trunk and leaves, producing gels and gums. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. ROOT is an object-oriented program and library developed by CERN. These plug and cut off the flow of water and nutrients, causing the plant to wilt. A nutrient is food or chemicals that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment WILT (1045 FM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Hits format Prior to 1960 almost all commercial banana production centered on the cultivar 'Gros Michel', which was highly susceptible to fusarium wilt. Gros Michel, or 'Big Mike' was an early export Cultivar of Banana, and was until the 1950s the main variety exported to the United States. The cultivar 'Cavendish' was chosen as a replacement for 'Gros Michel' because out of the resistant cultivars it was viewed as producing the highest quality fruit. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. However, more care is required for shipping the 'Cavendish' banana, and its quality compared to 'Gros Michel' is debated.
• Tropical Race 4 - a reinvigorated strain of Panama Disease first discovered in 1993. Fusarium oxysporum, also referred to as Panama disease or Agent Green, is a Fungus that causes Fusarium wilt disease in This is a virulent form of fusarium wilt that has wiped out 'Cavendish' in several southeast Asian countries. It has yet to reach the Americas; however, soil fungi can easily be carried on boots, clothing, or tools. Clothing (also called clothes, accoutrements, accouterments, or habiliments) protects the Human body from extreme Weather A broader definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other This is how Tropical Race 4 moves from one plantation to another and is its most likely route into Latin America. The Cavendish cultivar is highly susceptible to TR4, and over time, Cavendish is almost certain to be eliminated from commercial production by this disease. Unfortunately the only known defense to TR4 is genetic resistance.
• Black Sigatoka - a fungal leaf spot disease first observed in Fiji in 1963 or 1964. Black Sigatoka is a leaf spot disease of Banana plants caused by Ascomycete Fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Black Sigatoka (also known as Black Leaf Streak) has spread to banana plantations throughout the tropics due to infected banana leaves being used as packing material. It affects all of the main cultivars of bananas and plantains, impeding photosynthesis by turning parts of their leaves black, and eventually killing the entire leaf. The plantain is a crop in the genus Musa and is generally used for cooking in contrast to the soft sweet Banana (which is sometimes called the Photosynthesis is a Metabolic pathway that converts Light Energy into Chemical energy. Being starved for energy, fruit production falls by 50% or more, and the bananas that do grow suffer premature ripening, making them unsuitable for export. Ripening is a process in Fruits that causes them to become more Edible. In Economics, an export is any good or Commodity, Transported from one country to another country in a Legitimate fashion The fungus has shown ever increasing resistance to fungicidal treatment, with the current expense for treating 1 hectare exceeding US$1000 per year. In addition to the financial expense there is the question of how long such intensive spraying can be justified environmentally. Several resistant cultivars of banana have been developed, but none has yet received wide scale commercial acceptance due to taste and texture issues.
• Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV) - this virus is spread from plant to plant by aphids. A virus (from the Latin virus meaning Toxin or Poison) is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that is unable It causes stunting of the leaves resulting in a "bunched" appearance. Generally, a banana plant infected with the virus will not set fruit, although mild strains exist in many areas which do allow for some fruit production. These mild strains are often mistaken for malnourishment, or a disease other than BBTV. There is no cure for BBTV, however its effect can be minimised by planting only tissue cultured plants (In-vitro propagation), controlling the aphids, and immediately removing and destroying any plant from the field that shows signs of the disease.

Even though it is no longer viable for large scale cultivation, 'Gros Michel' is not extinct and is still grown in areas where Panama Disease is not found. Likewise, 'Cavendish' is in no danger of extinction, but it may leave the shelves of the supermarkets for good if diseases make it impossible to supply the global market. It is unclear if any existing cultivar can replace 'Cavendish' on a scale needed to fill current demand, so various hybridisation and genetic engineering programs are working on creating a disease-resistant, mass-market banana.

In Australia

Australia is relatively free of plant diseases and therefore prohibits imports. When Cyclone Larry wiped out Australia's domestic banana crop in 2006, bananas became relatively expensive, due to both low supply domestically and the existence of laws prohibiting banana imports. Severe Tropical Cyclone Larry (JTWC designation 17P) was a Tropical cyclone that made landfall in Australia during the 2005-06 Southern

In East Africa

Most bananas grown worldwide are used for local consumption. In the tropics, bananas, especially cooking bananas, represent a major source of food, as well as a major source of income for smallholder farmers. It is in the East African highlands that bananas reach their greatest importance as a staple food crop. In countries such as Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda per capita consumption has been estimated at 450 kg per year, the highest in the world. The Republic of Uganda is a Landlocked country in East Africa. Burundi (buˈɾundi officially the Republic of Burundi, is a small country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda The Republic of Rwanda (ruːˈændə or /rəˈwɑːndə/ in English ɾwanda or in Kinyarwanda is a small Landlocked country in the Ugandans use the same word "matooke" to describe both banana and food.

In the past, the banana was a highly sustainable crop with a long plantation life and stable yields year round. However with the arrival of the Black Sigatoka fungus, banana production in eastern Africa has fallen by over 40%. Black Sigatoka is a leaf spot disease of Banana plants caused by Ascomycete Fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet For example, during the 1970s, Uganda produced 15 to 20 tonnes of bananas per hectare. Today, production has fallen to only 6 tonnes per hectare.

The situation has started to improve as new disease resistant cultivars have been developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and NARO such as the FHIA-17 (known in Uganda as the Kabana 3). The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA was established in 1967 as a Non profit organization to find solutions for hunger and poverty through research for These new cultivars taste different from the traditionally grown banana which has slowed their acceptance by local farmers. However, by adding mulch and animal manure to the soil around the base of the banana plant, these new cultivars have substantially increased yields in the areas where they have been tried. In Agriculture and Gardening, '''mulch''' is a protective cover placed over the Soil, primarily to modify the effects of the local Climate. Manure is Organic matter used as Organic fertilizer in Agriculture.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and NARO, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and CGIAR have started trials for genetically modified banana plants that are resistant to both Black Sigatoka and banana weevils. The Rockefeller Foundation (RF is a prominent Philanthropic organization and Private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue New York City. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR was originally created at the initiative of the Rockefeller Foundation, which had sponsored international Genetic engineering, Recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/manipulation (GM and gene splicing are terms that apply to the direct It is developing cultivars specifically for smallholder or subsistence farmers.

Allergic reactions

There are two forms of banana allergy. One is oral allergy syndrome which causes itching and swelling in the mouth or throat within one hour after ingestion and is related to birch tree and other pollen allergies. Oral allergy syndrome or OAS is an Allergic reaction to certain (usually fresh Fruits, nuts, and Vegetables that develops in Birch is the name of any Tree of the genus Betula ( Bé-tu-la) in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the Pollen is a fine to coarse powder consisting of microgametophytes ( pollen grains) which produce the male Gametes (sperm cells of The other is related to latex allergies and causes urticaria and potentially serious upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Latex allergy is a medical term encompassing a range of Allergic reactions to natural Rubber Latex. ^[17]

Fibre

Textiles

The banana plant has long been a source of fibre for high quality textiles. In Japan, the cultivation of banana for clothing and household use dates back to at least the 13th century. In the Japanese system, leaves and shoots are cut from the plant periodically to ensure softness. The harvested shoots must first be boiled in lye to prepare the fibres for the making of the yarn. Lye is a Corrosive alkaline substance commonly Sodium hydroxide (NaOH These banana shoots produce fibres of varying degrees of softness, yielding yarns and textiles with differing qualities for specific uses. For example, the outermost fibres of the shoots are the coarsest, and are suitable for tablecloths, whereas the softest innermost fibres are desirable for kimono and kamishimo. The is the National costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant thing to wear ( ki wearing and mono thing but now has come Hakama (袴 are a type of traditional Japanese clothing. They were originally worn only by men but today they are worn by both men and women This traditional Japanese banana cloth making process requires many steps, all performed by hand. ^[18]

In another system employed in Nepal, the trunk of the banana plant is harvested instead, small pieces of which are subjected to a softening process, mechanical extraction of the fibres, bleaching, and drying. After that, the fibres are sent to the Kathmandu valley for the making of high end rugs with a textural quality similar to silk. The Kathmandu Valley (नेपाः स्वनिगः Nepāḥ Svānigaḥ) located in the Nepal, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of These banana fibre rugs are woven by the traditional Nepalese hand-knotted methods, and are sold RugMark certified. Rugmark is a global nonprofit organization working to end illegal child labor in the carpet industry and to offer educational opportunities to children in India and Nepal

Paper

Main article: Banana paper

Banana fibre is also used in the production of banana paper. Banana paper is used in two different senses to refer to a Paper made from the Bark of the banana plant mainly used for artistic purposes or paper made from banana Banana paper is used in two different senses: to refer to a paper made from the bark of the banana plant, mainly used for artistic purposes, or paper made from banana fiber, obtained from an industrialized process, from the stem and the non utilizable fruits. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging Bark, also known as periderm is the outermost layer of stems and Roots of Woody plants such as Trees It overlays the Wood and consists This paper can be either hand-made or made by industrialized machine.

Storage and transport

In the current world marketing system, bananas are grown in the tropics where hurricanes are not common. The fruit therefore has to be transported over long distances and storage is necessary. To gain maximum life bunches are harvested before the fruit is fully mature. The fruit is carefully handled, transported quickly to the seaboard, cooled and shipped under sophisticated refrigeration. The basis of this procedure is to prevent the bananas producing ethylene which is the natural ripening agent of the fruit. This sophisticated technology allows storage and transport for 3-4 weeks at 13 degrees Celsius. On arrival at the destination the bananas are held at about 17 degrees Celsius and treated with a low concentration of ethylene. After a few days the fruit has begun to ripen and it is distributed for retail sale. It is important to note that unripe bananas can not be held in the home refrigerator as they suffer from the cold. After ripening some bananas can be held for a few days in the home refrigerator. They can be stored indefinitely frozen, then eaten like a Popsicle or cooked or as a banana mush. Popsicle is the most popular brand of Ice pop in the US and Canada.

Australian researchers have clearly shown that the use of refrigeration is no longer essential to extend the life of bananas after harvest. ^[19][20][21]

The above references report that the presence of carbon dioxide (which is produced by the fruit) extends the life and the addition of an ethylene absorbent further extends the life even at high temperatures. This simple technology involves packing the fruit in a polyethylene bag and including an ethylene absorbent, potassium permanganate, on an inert carrier. Potassium permanganate is the Chemical compound K[[manganese Mn]] O 4 The bag is then sealed with a band or string. This low cost treatment more than doubles the life at a range of temperatures and can give a life of up to 3-4 weeks without the need of refrigeration. The method is suitable for bunches, hands and even fingers.

The technology has been successfully tested over long distances and has been confirmed by researchers in a number of countries. The longest commercial trial was from North Queensland to New Zealand by unrefrigerated rail and ship over 18 days. Importers thought that the treated bananas were harvested on the day of arrival!

Although the technology has been extensively published in recognized scientific journals and has considerable cost savings (including energy savings) it has not been widely adopted. This report is to encourage banana growers in even poor countries to try out the technology themselves. It is suggested that a freshly harvested bunch be taken and a few hands be selected and each cut in two. Half of each hand should be sealed in a polyethylene bag the other half hands should be left untreated. Even without the ethylene absorbent the beneficial effect should be obvious in a few days. Growers can then decide whether to try the full technology.

Usage in culture

Peels

The depiction of a person slipping on a banana peel has been a staple of physical comedy for generations. Physical comedy also known as Slapstick is a comedic performance relying mostly on the use of the body to convey Humor. A 1906 comedy record produced by Edison Records features a popular character of the time, "Cal Stewart", claiming to describe his own such incident, saying:

I don't think much of a man what throws a bananer peelin' on the sidewalk, and I don't think much of a bananer what throws a man on the sidewalk, neither. Edison Records was the first Record label, pioneering Recorded sound and an important player in the early Record industry. Cal Stewart (b 1856 Charlotte County Virginia, d December 7, 1919) was a pioneer in Vaudeville and early Sound recordings. . . . my foot hit that bananer peelin' and I went up in the air, and come down ker-plunk, and fer about a minnit I seen all the stars what 'stronomy tells about, and some that hain't been discovered yit. Wall jist as I was pickin' myself up, a little boy come runnin' cross the street and he said, "Oh mister, won't you please do that agin? My mother didn't see you do it. "

Arts

• The poet Bashō is named after the Japanese word for a banana plant. was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan During his lifetime Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative haikai no renga form today The "bashō" planted in his garden by a grateful student became a source of inspiration to his poetry, as well as a symbol of his life and home. ^[22]
• The song Yes, We Have No Bananas was written by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn and originally released in 1923. " Yes! We Have No Bananas " is the title of a Novelty song by Frank Silver and Irving Cohn that was a major hit in 1923 and one of the Frank Silver ( 1896 - 1960) a US songwriter He co-wrote & co-composed the popular song Yes We Have No Bananas in 1923 with Irving Cohn ( February 21, 1898 - 1961 was a British-American songwriter best known for " Yes We Have No Bananas " which he co-wrote with Since then the song has been re-recorded several times and has been particularly popular during banana shortages.

Symbols

Bananas are also humorously used as a phallic symbol due to similarities in size and shape. The word phallus can refer to an erect Penis, or to an object shaped like a penis This is typified by the artwork of the debut album of The Velvet Underground, which features a banana on the front cover, yet on the original LP version, the design allowed the listener to 'peel' this banana to find a pink, phallic structure on the inside. This article is about the band For their self-titled album see The Velvet Underground (album; for the book see The Velvet Underground (book

Gallery

Traditional offerings of bananas and coconut at a Nat spirit shrine in Myanmar

Certain banana cultivars turn red or purplish instead of yellow as they ripen.

Bananas are often sold in bundles, as shown above.

See also

• Banana production in Iceland
• Banana messenger
• Bananadine
• Banana republic
• Enset (false banana)
• Plantain

Culinary usage

• Banana bread
• Banana chips
• Banana cream pie
• Bananas Foster
• Banana ketchup
• Banana pudding
• Banana sauce
• Banana split
• Banania
• Bánh chuối
• Pisang goreng

Footnotes

References

• Banana overview - Banana details by IITA
• FAO. Bananas Commodity notes: Final results of the 2003 season, 2004
• Denham, T. , Haberle, S. G. , Lentfer, C. , Fullagar, R. , Field, J. , Porch, N. , Therin, M. , Winsborough B. , and Golson, J. Multi-disciplinary Evidence for the Origins of Agriculture from 6950-6440 Cal BP at Kuk Swamp in the Highlands of New Guinea. Science, June 2003 issue.
• Skidmore, T. , Smith, P. - Modern Latin America (5th edition), (2001) New York: Oxford University Press)
• Editors (2006). "Banana fiber rugs". Dwell 6 (7): 44. Dwell is an American magazine devoted to modern Architecture and modern.   Brief mention of banana fibre rugs
• Leibling, Robert W. and Pepperdine, Donna (2006). "Natural remedies of Arabia". Saudi Aramco World 57 (5): 14. Saudi Aramco World is a bi-monthly magazine published by Saudi Aramco, the national oil company of Saudi Arabia.   Banana etymology, banana flour
• Watson, Andrew. Agricultural innovation in the early Islamic world, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1983. Cambridge University Press (known colloquially as CUP is a Publisher given a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1534

External links

• Banana at the Open Directory Project

The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory

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