Gabe15

All of the released FHIA cultivars are decades old, and were made available at a time when the organization was much more willing to share their work, basically during the years when Phil Rowe was head breeder. They have created many more different new hybrids since those times, but I suppose they are banking on one of them being a potential export Cavendish replacement and so then the strategy would be to license them to the big growers, and not share until then. But like I said, who knows, they are pretty much closed off these days.

As for hybrids from other breeding programs, in reality there is probably not much that would be of great value to hobby growers. Almost all banana breeding work has been focused on trying to recreate basic landrace clones but with enhanced disease resistance, which is typically a minor concern for hobby growers. Most of the successful ones still fall short in terms matching the target cultivar's eating quality traits exactly, but may have enhanced disease resistance and yield.

For hobby growers, I'd say you're better off trying to acquire unique landrace cultivars (those that did not come from a breeding program) if you're after something that is really different, there are many out there that have yet to be collected and made widely available.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

sputinc7

Thanks for that quick response... I understand your point... the projects are working on either a Cavendish or better yet, a GM with disease resistance, so all will taste much the same...
I just want something I like the taste of that I can grow easily here in Central Florida. I love Paggi, and have one now, so will add anything I learn about it to the Wiki. In all the internet there seems to be only one page about it and it just has a few pics of the fruit. I know it doesn't get very tall...
Mysore and Brazilians are pretty good, and I have both of those... Brazilians are one I would recommend for here as they can take cold and grow quick. Down side is a 5-6 month ripening time.
I have a Veinte Cohol, which is supposed to be fast, but not at all cold hardy, plus I have not tasted them yet, so we will see.
I have a GM even though it's doubtful I can successfully fruit it here... 2 Namwah even though I do not like them, a Cavendish, same as GM... Probably can't fruit here, too cold... FHIA 1, one American, one not... if there really is a difference...a 3640 and a 17.

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If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win.

https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc

Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

meizzwang

[quote=Gabe15;300427]I agree with you that preserving genetic diversity is important and breeding bananas is relatively difficult (compared to something like maize or tomatoes), but FHIA is far from the only organization that has been breeding bananas, and in recent years, they are one of the most secretive with what they are doing. Here is a nice article summarizing the history and main contributors to banana breeding.
Who's breeding bananas? : Under the peel | News, knowledge and information on bananas



Gabe: have any of the other organizations (besides FHIA) been able to produce a commercially viable, improved cultivar of banana? I suspected other breeders existed, but haven't yet heard of any other success stories. Doesn't mean it's not happening on a private level...