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

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

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

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.

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

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

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

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

IITA - Breeding

Ikisan - Breeding and crop improvement in banana

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

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.

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

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

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

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.

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

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

Anyone want some seeds?

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

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

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.

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

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

Re: Wild bananas for wildlife and food security - Singapore
 

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