Morphological Varations of Wild Banana, Musa acuminata Colla in Lower Northern Thailand

Abstract

This research was conducted in seven study sites, scattered in the lower northern Thailand during 200-2007.  Three hundred and thirty six of wild banana samples were collected along line transect and classified according to the classical taxonomy into 7 groups.  group 1 was ssp.  siamea and ssp. burmanica.  Group 2 was called "Mae Wong Form", because of dominant and unique characters such as the prominent 1/3 bright light green or viridescent on the bract external face and strongly convoluted bract tips.  This group was different and relatively isolated from ssp. malaccensis, However, it indicated some hybrid characters of ssp. burmanica x siamea x Musa rubra. groups 3 clearly pronounced the typical characters of ssp. malaccensis.  Group 4 showed all major characters of ssp. malaccensis. but also shared some characters with M. rubra.  However, there were new characters of glossy pink purple on the bract external face and bright orange red on the bract internal face, which were visibly at the first observation. Group 5 was ssp. siamea.  However, variagions of male bud forms were found in three populations.  Siamera;s male bud form was 71.1% while Tavoy's and Selangor's male bud forms were 28.9%.  these were different from the typical.  Group 6 was identified separately away from M. acuminata due to the prominent erect rachis position.  finally, Group 7 was the typical ssp. burmanica.  Variations of M. acuminata in this area were larger than the former scientific recorded.  All sample groups could be new promising genetic materials for breeding program due to their vigorous growth and some useful agronomic characters.