Morphological Classification of Wild Banana (Musa acuminate colla) by Classical Taxonomy and Cluster Analysis Technique in Lower Northern Thailand

Abstract

Three hundred and nine samples of wild banana (Musa acuminate Colla) were collected in the five national parks namely a wildlife sanctuary and a forest park during March 2002 to March 2003. All samples were examined through classical taxonomy, then major qualitative characteristics were classified into 7 groups. Meanwhile, Hierarchical and K-mean cluster analysis were numerical taxono being used to report examination with these characteristics. There are 7 characteristics of species identification criterion, while other 13 characteristics were subspecies. All samples were classified into 7 groups at 5 units of re-scaled distance with 80 % of similarity by Hierarchical cluster analysis. In addition, the similar classification results which were re-approved by K-means cluster analysis and non-significantly different at P=0.05 from Hierarchical cluster analysis. Discriminant analysis were shown the probability of precise separation and prediction into 7 groups at 5 units of re-scaled distance with 80 % of similarity by Hierarchical cluster analysis. In addition, the similar classification results which were re-approved by K-means cluster analysis and non-significantly different at P=0.05 from Hierarchical cluster analysis. Discriminant analysis were shown the probability of precise separation and prediction into 7 groups of both cluster techniques at 83-100 % with the original and cross-validated methods. Both results from numerical morphological classification were synchronized and non-significantly different from the result of classical morphological taxonomy with Pearson Chi-square test (P =0.05). Sample in the group 6 was highly different from M. acuminate Colla with its erect rachis position that should be a new wild banana group. It is very interesting to focus on re-identification of this sample through banana taxonomic system. The prominent strong convolute with significant 1/3 bright light green tip of male bud of the group 2 which was also interesting and might be a new promising subspecies of M. acuminate Colla.