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View Full Version : Looking for info on Musa Virupakshi


Eric
07-28-2009, 09:07 PM
Does anyone know or grow the Indian cultivar Musa Virupakshi? Checked the wiki & it's not listed. Would very much appreciate any info I can get.

Gabe15
07-28-2009, 09:34 PM
Heres all the info I can quickly find on it

"Two Hill bananas cultivars ‘Virupakshi’ and ‘Sirumalai’ known for their special flavour and long shelf life, are unique to the state of Tamil Nadu, India.Hill bananas are perennial in nature and are the ruling crop of the Lower Pulneys hill range, Sirumalai and Kolli hills of Tamil Nadu from 1940 through 1975 while coffee and pepper also formed part of a multitier system. Hill bananas prefer an altitude of 2000 to 5000 masl and a well distributed annual rainfall of 1250-1500 mm. Like other bananas, hill bananas are also susceptible to banana bunchy top virus (BBTV)." From: Genetic engineering of Hill banana ecotypes against BBTV; S.K. Elayabalan, K.K. Kalaiponmani, K. Kumar, D.S. Angappan and P. Balasubramanian; Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, India

It is in the Pome subgroup, an AAB genome. This subgroup is most well known in the US for the cultivar 'Brazilian', so it is likely similar flavor-wise with what we know in the US mainland as 'Brazilian' and 'Dwarf Brazilian', and in Hawai'i as 'Apple'.

Eric
07-28-2009, 09:56 PM
Thanx Gabe :) !!
Then I guess what I really need to be checking out is the Brazilian, Dwarf Brazilian, & Hawai'ian Apple... Is that the Green Hawai'ian Apple Banana plant?
Anyway, what I heard was that the Virupakshi was a fair tasting seeded banana with just a few seeds (which is basically what I've been looking for). Considering it's origin, I was thinking it might be worth trying in Oklahoma.
Mahalo!

Gabe15
07-28-2009, 10:22 PM
If its a Pome, I don't see why it would have seeds. Where did you see references that it has seeds? 'Apple' in Hawaii is synonymous with both 'Brazilian' and 'Dwarf Brazilian', neither of which have seeds.

Eric
07-28-2009, 10:27 PM
If its a Pome, I don't see why it would have seeds. Where did you see references that it has seeds? 'Apple' in Hawaii is synonymous with both 'Brazilian' and 'Dwarf Brazilian', neither of which have seeds.

Sorry, my mistake :o. Just went back over my notes (real messy). Got the Virupakshi mixed up with the Pahari Kela.
BTW, Luv the diagrams & schematics in your album! Thanx for the info :).
You seem to know a great deal about bananas... Do you know of a fair tasting seeded banana?

Found it again (it's been a while). I was reading in "Cold hardy bananas - Musa Pahari Kela (hill banana)" thread, especially the link in post-21 then in post-28.

Richard
07-28-2009, 10:49 PM
Do you know of a fair tasting seeded banana?

With all the great tasting seedless bananas, why are you interested in a tooth-breaking seeded type?

Eric
07-28-2009, 10:56 PM
With all the great tasting seedless bananas, why are you interested in a tooth-breaking seeded type?

Just Luv experimenting with bananas :). I've managed to keep four (now) 12-16 foot Blue Javas going for 3 years now. Was considering setting up a small lab for tissue culture but wanted to try a seed banana out, first, just to find out what that's like. Figure if I get one, though, I'd at least like to work with one that's edible (no waste).

Gabe15
07-29-2009, 12:20 AM
There are a couple of common seeded bananas that aren't bad tasting, but don't really lend themselves to a food source compared to edible bananas. There is a very big and significant difference between edible and seeded bananas. Seeded bananas are not like what you would imagine if an edible bananas had seeds throughout. Seeded bananas are much smaller overall, and generally have only a very small amount of edible pulp.

If you really want to experience a seeded banana, I would recommend Musa velutina/dasycarpa, its very common, will be relatively quick to flower, will definitely set seed and is fairly sweet.

Jack Daw
07-29-2009, 04:56 AM
But I thought Virupakshi was USDA zone 10b+ plant. Right? Other than that, it can't be grown in greenhouse, 'cause it's like Saba, robust and huge whn mature.
Also AAB is referenced to as Plantain, so you might also see this plant regarded as plantain.

Also, I found this in my books:
It is an elite variety in South India especially grown for table purpose in Palani and Shevroy hills of Tamil Nadu under perennial cultivation. It is a vigorous and hardy variety though not a prolific one. Fruits show a typical curvature, possess a pleasant aroma and delightful taste. Virupakshi has the characteristic flavour only when they are cultivated in higher elevation. In the mixed cultivation it is well
suited as a shade plant for young coffee. It has many ecotypes like 'Sirumalai' (grown on hills), 'Vannan', 'Kali' etc. well suited for cultivation in plains. Perennial system of cultivation aggravates Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV).

Also Pahari Kela doesn't have seeds, I mailed to India and such practices as removing the flower bud to have seedless fruit were not practiced there, since the majority of PK population lives freely in the hills.

Eric
07-29-2009, 05:46 AM
Thanx guys! Jeeps, I really had my facts all mixed up. Even thought Virupakshi was zone 7. Definitely appreciate your info & setting me straight :).
Will check into Musa Velutina/Dasycarpa & see how I can work with that one.
Thanx again!

It's now same day at 6:25 am. Checked the wiki. Great pics & info on Musa Velutina! Just what I've been searching (almost a month) for!
Still very interested in learning more about the India bananas, although, I doubt I'd have much luck growing them here.

Richard
07-29-2009, 08:31 AM
Musa Virupakshi is revered in parts of the Hindu faith. About a decade ago a crisis developed in India because many plantations because infected with fungal diseases. This motivated a change in agricultural practices and development of tissue culture labs to produce "clean" plant starts. You can read more about it by searching the english-language newspaper reports from India and especially published papers from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

Richard
07-29-2009, 08:46 AM
Also AAB is referenced to as Plantain, so you might also see this plant regarded as plantain.

In the U.S., the general population regards "plantain" as a synonym for cooking banana, but in many parts of the world "plantain" is a synonym for bananas in general. You are correct that some AAB bananas are too starchy for anything but cooking (e.g., Tanduk), but some are used almost exclusively for fresh eating (e.g., Manzano) and others are fine either way (e.g., Raja Puri).

Gabe15
07-29-2009, 09:26 AM
Also AAB is referenced to as Plantain, so you might also see this plant regarded as plantain.

Plantain is a specific subgroup with an AAB genome, but there are other AAB subgroups that are not Plantains.

lorax
07-29-2009, 09:38 AM
And if you're interested in the origin of the name "Virupakshi" it comes from Buddhist mythology - Virupaksha is the Lord of Nagas, and Virupakshi is his consort; he is one of the four guardians of the world. If you're curious, he's normally represented as a wrathful red-skinned man.

http://www.tibetshop.com/details/4gk282_virupaksha.jpg

Eric
07-29-2009, 09:52 AM
Musa Virupakshi is revered in parts of the Hindu faith. About a decade ago a crisis developed in India because many plantations because infected with fungal diseases. This motivated a change in agricultural practices and development of tissue culture labs to produce "clean" plant starts. You can read more about it by searching the english-language newspaper reports from India and especially published papers from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

The Banana plant & fruit are also highly revered in the Buddhist faith. It is a strong symbol of Unity in Sri Lanka & India. And while common to take meals on the leaves in Northern Sri Lanka & Southern India, it is considered somewhat taboo to tear a leaf & only politicians are allowed to prepare a "Malluma" with the leaves. The banana is also, & especially, a special & preferential sacrifice to the Gods. -- Just thought I'd add what I know in that respect.
Thanx for the the other info...! wasn't much aware of it's importance to the Hindu faith but was certain there was such :).

Hermitian Operator - Quantum mechanics - Just curious :).

Richard
07-29-2009, 10:00 AM
Hermitian Operator - Quantum mechanics - Just curious :).

The Hermitian operator is commutative and I like to travel! Well, o.k. it is also useful in statistical optimization. I can tell you a few semesters worth of information on Quantum mechanics but I concede to Lorax who can keep you entertained for years on the subject.

Eric
07-29-2009, 10:02 AM
And if you're interested in the origin of the name "Virupakshi" it comes from Buddhist mythology - Virupaksha is the Lord of Nagas, and Virupakshi is his consort; he is one of the four guardians of the world. If you're curious, he's normally represented as a wrathful red-skinned man.

http://www.tibetshop.com/details/4gk282_virupaksha.jpg

Wow! Two more posts before I could finish mine!
Okay. The four Guardians are:
Vaisravana (yellow-skinned), Virudhaka (blue-skinned), Dhrtarastra (white-skinned), & Virupaksa (red-skinned). They stand at the 4 compass directions of the world.
Can't believe I didn't make that connection!?
Virupaksa is represented by a serpent & his name means "He who sees all". Seems fitting that a plant named after his consort would make an ideal sacrifice, all things considered.

Richard: Maybe later on the mathematical angle... still recovering from limits & derivatives :eek: !

BananaAddict
09-29-2009, 02:28 PM
Latest news I've got on this virupaksha and sirumalai. India: Palani Hills may lose unique banana varieties to virus (http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=51251)

CValentine
09-29-2009, 03:00 PM
Interesting read....:lurk:
Information gathering....... :D ~Cheryl

Jack Daw
09-29-2009, 05:28 PM
Richard: Maybe later on the mathematical angle... still recovering from limits & derivatives :eek: !
Oh, nice. I love math. Starting off as:
Limits, derivatives, integrals, multi-dimensional algebra (including derivatives and integrals), gradient, rotation, divergence... LOVE THAT!
Bundled together with electrotechnics and physics that is. Not as a single class. :ha:

As for the article... It's sad. It might even be, that all the tropical bananas will be wiped out and new colonies based on subtropical (survivng) and temperate bananas will be established.

Eric
09-29-2009, 05:53 PM
Oh, nice. I love math. Starting off as:
Limits, derivatives, integrals, multi-dimensional algebra (including derivatives and integrals), gradient, rotation, divergence... LOVE THAT!
Bundled together with electrotechnics and physics that is. Not as a single class. :ha:

As for the article... It's sad. It might even be, that all the tropical bananas will be wiped out and new colonies based on subtropical (survivng) and temperate bananas will be established.

Multi-dimensional algebra!!!!???? It gets worse!!!!???? Algebra's bad enough as it is!!!!!! :eek: !!!!!! OMG!! Dont bundle it up with electrotechnics, whatever that is :eek: !!!!!! Wow!!!!!! Very Scary, Jack!!

Really sad about the Bunchy-top & Virupakshi :(. I just really hope somebody outside of India has some that can survive. Glad you've got Pahari Kela :) !! At least that one has a new home!!!!

sivalingam elayabalan
06-16-2010, 03:52 AM
If any one need more information abt virupakshi....send me mail:balabiotech@gmail.com
i am the elayabalan.................

sivalingam elayabalan
06-16-2010, 03:55 AM
plz look the link:
Sign In to ProMusa Community - ProMusa Community (http://promusacommunity.ning.com/profiles/blogs/about-hill-bananatwo-ecotypes?xg_source=msg_appr_blogpost)

u will get info abt hill banana virupaksi(AAB)

banana13
01-16-2013, 06:50 PM
I know this thread is a bit old, but thought that I might add a bit about sirumalai, a similar banana. Sirumalai is perhaps the best of all bananas, ask anyone from south India that has tasted it. They are also one of the most nutritious. My grandmother used to buy huge bunches of those bananas for a cheap price, and we would enjoy them very much. The bananas were like two inches long, and filled with an amazing flavor. I could never get enough of them; the whole banana would be gone in a single bite!!! Now, though, we can’t get them anymore except for ridiculously high prices, and very few of them at that. It is really sad that they are vanishing like this, but hopefully, someone will be able to get a couple of disease-free plants out and preserve them, while the disease wipes itself out, then re plant them. That would be a dream come true. For now, though, it seems that the legendary sirumalai is on the trail to extinction.:0491::0493:

banana13
03-02-2013, 09:04 AM
Also, they taste way different from apple, or at least the banana we get here in stores called apple. Way different. Similar genotype, but not same, what would you call it, taste-o-type?