Interesting.
The seeds seem too large to survive chewing, so I don't think passage through the gut of an animal is the normal trigger for germination.
According to Wikipedia,
Quote:
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"Musa acuminata is a pioneer species. They rapidly exploit newly disturbed areas, like areas recently subjected to forest fires."
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Musa acuminata - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
That fits well with large seeds. A large seed gives a head start when cashing in on the sudden bonanza of a burned-over area.
Ash is alkaline. Perhaps an increase in pH would help.
Ash is full of potassium. Perhaps an influx of potassium helps. Has anyone had good results with potting media that have lots of potassium, compared to those that don't?
The forest floor is relatively constant in temperature day and night; bare ground is warmed in the day and cools at night. But temperature cycling has been tried by countless breeders and hobbyists, hasn't it?
Forest floor under an intact canopy is relatively constant in humidity. After a fire (or anything else that gets rid of a section of canopy, such as the fall of a large tree), the surface presumably dries out somewhat, at least during the day. Perhaps a partial drying after soaking would help.
A surface that's constant in temperature over time is also constant in temperature with depth, whereas a surface that's heated by sunlight can be much hotter at the surface than even a centimeter below. A seed that can respond to being heated unevenly would seem advantageous. Has anyone compared germination times from radiant top heat versus bottom heat?
A plant that has evolved to "rapidly exploit newly disturbed areas" has to germinate quickly once it gets the signal. Expecting germination to take months seems like barking up the wrong tree. (Or should that be "wrong pseudostem"?) We're just waiting for the seeds to malfunction, or for the right signal to show up out of whatever random noise they pick up. Maybe the people who keep getting impatient and poking at their seeds are on to something.