Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore

bengtang · 11-24-2012, 02:27 AM

Hi all, I like bananas. I live in Singapore, a part of the world where there are native wild bananas (Musa acuminata) which have seeds, and also several domestic cultivars which have no viable seeds. The wild ones are (as with other wild things) threatened by habitat destruction and urbanisation in this small country with a rapidly growing population. I am going to try and cross the wild ones with domesticated varieties to try and produce a variety that has more edible flesh than the wild one, but also viable seeds. This will be useful as food for monkeys, birds, and fruit bats, which can then also spread the seeds around. Here's some photos of bananas:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5238884&type=1

lwooters · 11-24-2012, 05:46 PM

welcome! very cool project you have going on, please keep us posted!

raygrogan · 11-24-2012, 06:16 PM

You must have looked into the genetics so help us guys who can't remember well - isn't there something about the commercial bananas being "Tripoid" = having three sets of chromosomes and therefore have a hard time dividing in half to make pollen and eggs that work. There must be some tricks that the pros use to do regular banana breeding.

2woodensticks · 11-24-2012, 08:42 PM

are the wild ones not edible at all???or can you eat if really ripe??thanks and welcome to the forum

bengtang · 11-24-2012, 08:56 PM

Many of the local cultivars are diploid but with tiny specks for seeds. The wild bananas have thin pseudostems and small fruit (pictured in my avatar). The fruit has edible flesh but a lot of seeds around 5mm in diameter which makes eating it difficult, kind of like pomegranate. I will try to grow some wild and domesticated varieties near each other to see if they will cross-pollinate. May take a while.

Someone is grafting bananas to try and hybridise them but i doubt it will work:

Grafting Banana Trees - YouTube

Grafting Bananas Stage 2 - YouTube

sunfish · 11-24-2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raygrogan

You must have looked into the genetics so help us guys who can't remember well - isn't there something about the commercial bananas being "Tripoid" = having three sets of chromosomes and therefore have a hard time dividing in half to make pollen and eggs that work. There must be some tricks that the pros use to do regular banana breeding.

IITA - Breeding

Ikisan - Breeding and crop improvement in banana

sunfish · 11-24-2012, 10:23 PM

breeding possibilities

Romul · 11-25-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengtang

Hi all, I like bananas. I live in Singapore, a part of the world where there are native wild bananas (Musa acuminata) which have seeds, and also several domestic cultivars which have no viable seeds. The wild ones are (as with other wild things) threatened by habitat destruction and urbanisation in this small country with a rapidly growing population. I am going to try and cross the wild ones with domesticated varieties to try and produce a variety that has more edible flesh than the wild one, but also viable seeds. This will be useful as food for monkeys, birds, and fruit bats, which can then also spread the seeds around. Here's some photos of bananas:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5238884&type=1

Это хорошо, что Вы заботитесь о животных. Но в результате расселения ваших гибридов при помощи перекрестного опыления дикий Musa acuminata может исчезнуть в вашей местности. Вместо него будут произрастать гибриды.

Romul · 11-25-2012, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengtang

Many of the local cultivars are diploid but with tiny specks for seeds. The wild bananas have thin pseudostems and small fruit (pictured in my avatar). The fruit has edible flesh but a lot of seeds around 5mm in diameter which makes eating it difficult, kind of like pomegranate. I will try to grow some wild and domesticated varieties near each other to see if they will cross-pollinate. May take a while.

Someone is grafting bananas to try and hybridise them but i doubt it will work:

Grafting Banana Trees - YouTube

Grafting Bananas Stage 2 - YouTube

Конечно, это не будет работать. Даже, если они срастутся, при такой посадке каждый из этих ростков будет иметь свои корни и жить своей жизнью.

bengtang · 11-26-2012, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romul

Это хорошо, что Вы заботитесь о животных. Но в результате расселения ваших гибридов при помощи перекрестного опыления дикий Musa acuminata может исчезнуть в вашей местности. Вместо него будут произрастать гибриды.

Хороший вопрос. Может быть, я просто посадить дикий для животных. Вы хотите, чтобы некоторые семена дикого типа? Если вы дадите мне ваш адрес в личном сообщении я могу отправить вам некоторые.

bengtang · 11-26-2012, 01:22 AM

I have posted photos of the seeds from wild banana:
Facebook

Anyone want some seeds?

bengtang · 11-26-2012, 01:52 PM

Try this link for photos instead
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...1&l=e5172790cf

bengtang · 01-08-2013, 10:36 PM

An article and some pics showing the wild nanas, i am pretty sure they are native to Singapore.

Wild bananas growing near Dairy Farm Rd?, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Singapore Guides & Articles - STClassifieds

Photo gallery: Amateur naturalist may have found wild bananas here

Musa777 · 01-09-2013, 02:13 AM

Hi Beng,

I have enjoyed the article and photos very much. Whould wish to be there to discover banana plants, too. Thank you very much for posting the link.
Even if the fruits have much seeds they look quite sweet. Did you tried to eat them?
That local species have very good adaption to local climate factors such as water, soil, sun, wind .. and are so much more resistant to diseas. Breeding edible cultivars from them by selection or crossing with otder species whould be a great thing.

Peter Franken · 01-17-2013, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengtang

Hi all, I like bananas. I live in Singapore, a part of the world where there are native wild bananas (Musa acuminata) which have seeds, and also several domestic cultivars which have no viable seeds. The wild ones are (as with other wild things) threatened by habitat destruction and urbanisation in this small country with a rapidly growing population. I am going to try and cross the wild ones with domesticated varieties to try and produce a variety that has more edible flesh than the wild one, but also viable seeds. This will be useful as food for monkeys, birds, and fruit bats, which can then also spread the seeds around. Here's some photos of bananas:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5238884&type=1

welcome Bengtang!
just sent you a private message!
grtz
Peter

bengtang · 02-11-2013, 05:36 AM

I've posted some photos of the wild bananas:
Banana Gallery - Wild bananas in Singapore

11-24-2012, 02:27 AM	#1 (permalink)
bengtang Location: Singapore island Find me on the map! Zone: equitorial humid tropics Name: Beng Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 88 BananaBucks : 7,747 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 55 Times in 27 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 10 Times	Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore Hi all, I like bananas. I live in Singapore, a part of the world where there are native wild bananas (Musa acuminata) which have seeds, and also several domestic cultivars which have no viable seeds. The wild ones are (as with other wild things) threatened by habitat destruction and urbanisation in this small country with a rapidly growing population. I am going to try and cross the wild ones with domesticated varieties to try and produce a variety that has more edible flesh than the wild one, but also viable seeds. This will be useful as food for monkeys, birds, and fruit bats, which can then also spread the seeds around. Here's some photos of bananas: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5238884&type=1

11-24-2012, 05:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
lwooters Zone: 7-8 Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 15 BananaBucks : 4,808 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 25 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 35 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore welcome! very cool project you have going on, please keep us posted!

11-24-2012, 06:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
raygrogan raygrogan's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 250 BananaBucks : 10,513 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 125 Times Was Thanked 314 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 17 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore You must have looked into the genetics so help us guys who can't remember well - isn't there something about the commercial bananas being "Tripoid" = having three sets of chromosomes and therefore have a hard time dividing in half to make pollen and eggs that work. There must be some tricks that the pros use to do regular banana breeding.

11-24-2012, 08:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
2woodensticks PURA VIDA!! Location: close to tampa florida Find me on the map! Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 697 BananaBucks : 46,673 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 421 Times Was Thanked 469 Times in 286 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 310 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore are the wild ones not edible at all???or can you eat if really ripe??thanks and welcome to the forum __________________ got to love em..{neotropical rattlesnake..cascabell}

11-24-2012, 10:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,031,872 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore breeding possibilities

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11-26-2012, 01:22 AM	#11 (permalink)
bengtang Location: Singapore island Find me on the map! Zone: equitorial humid tropics Name: Beng Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 88 BananaBucks : 7,747 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 55 Times in 27 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 10 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore I have posted photos of the seeds from wild banana: Facebook Anyone want some seeds?

11-26-2012, 01:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
bengtang Location: Singapore island Find me on the map! Zone: equitorial humid tropics Name: Beng Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 88 BananaBucks : 7,747 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 55 Times in 27 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 10 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore Try this link for photos instead http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...1&l=e5172790cf

01-08-2013, 10:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
bengtang Location: Singapore island Find me on the map! Zone: equitorial humid tropics Name: Beng Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 88 BananaBucks : 7,747 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 55 Times in 27 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 10 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore An article and some pics showing the wild nanas, i am pretty sure they are native to Singapore. Wild bananas growing near Dairy Farm Rd?, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Singapore Guides & Articles - STClassifieds Photo gallery: Amateur naturalist may have found wild bananas here

01-09-2013, 02:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
Musa777 Markus Senger Location: Germany Name: B. Eng. Markus Senger Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 79 BananaBucks : 25,343 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 9 Times Was Thanked 125 Times in 29 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore Hi Beng, I have enjoyed the article and photos very much. Whould wish to be there to discover banana plants, too. Thank you very much for posting the link. Even if the fruits have much seeds they look quite sweet. Did you tried to eat them? That local species have very good adaption to local climate factors such as water, soil, sun, wind .. and are so much more resistant to diseas. Breeding edible cultivars from them by selection or crossing with otder species whould be a great thing. __________________ Best wishes from Germany to all plant lovers. frosthartepalmen.de

02-11-2013, 05:36 AM	#16 (permalink)
bengtang Location: Singapore island Find me on the map! Zone: equitorial humid tropics Name: Beng Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 88 BananaBucks : 7,747 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 55 Times in 27 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 10 Times	Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore I've posted some photos of the wild bananas: Banana Gallery - Wild bananas in Singapore

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