aroidgrower

Well last year I tried to breed Basjoo with velutina. I had 2 week old Basjoo frozen pollen put on velutina. I had hit most the flowers for a few weeks time. The only real problem it seemed was I did the cross late in the year and the bananas did not have a good time rippening during the cold spells.
This year I planted the seeds and I have literally hundreds of bananas sprouted. Most of these are under 1 inch tall.

Now my question to the group. How can I or will I be able to know if the hybrid took and that this is just now velutina self pollination which it seems to easily do? I am hoping their maybe something to look for in the leaf stem or trunk that might show a sign of it being a hybrid rather than waiting for it to mature and flower.
In some of my Alocasia hybrids and Colocasia hybrids the leaves are usually thicker and have more texture under the leaves. Are their any signs I might should keep a eye out for to see if it had took?

Gabe15

It sounds like the cross did not work, I hate to break it to you. I'm not saying I'm 100% right, but it is much more likely they are normal.

As you know, M. velutina self pollinates and does so very quickly, in order to avoid this you must dig into the flowers before they open and remove the stamens before the pollen is formed.

Banana pollen (in previous studies) lasts about 3 days in refridgeration (not sure about freezing other than deep freezing, but 2 weeks seems like a long time).

M. velutina germinates very easily and grows very quickly so you will know for sure soon (they can flower in 4-5 months from seed). And although not nessacerily a certain fact, but in The Evolution of the Bananas by Simmonds, when he crossed velutina and basjoo (both directions) it always failed and there were never any plants produced.

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

MediaHound

Post some pics Brian
Here's an old pic of velutina seedlings (self pollinated)


I have some now that are sprouting I should take a new picture of them...

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Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

bigdog

Sounds like you probably meant to write "Musa velutina X basjoo."

I attempted the M. basjoo X velutina cross this spring, using freshly harvested M. velutina pollen. I went back a week or two ago to check on the hand I pollinated, and all but one finger had either fallen off or has not plumped. One finger looks promising though, and continues to mature, so we'll see.

Kylie2x

Well which ever way it goes.. Congrats on the germination...... I hope you will post pics and keep us all up to date on your progress..
Kylie

D_&_T

Brain and Frank

curiuos as to how these crosses are going

Dan

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bigdog

Dan, my Musa basjoo X velutina cross didn't take. I'll try again next year!

aroidgrower

mine are still growing not sure how large they will have to be before I can tell If they took or not. I am thinking they did not due to no red center colorations but. I am guessing I will not be for sure till it flowers.

Basjoofriend

Hi,

Musa basjoo and velutina are in the different sections, Musa basjoo is Eumusa and velutina is Callimusa, there is a genetic problem to cross them together. Why do you not try cross Musa basjoo with sikkimensis? One cross Musa basjoo x sikkimensis will have much better chances to form plants. Or try cross Musa basjoo with Helen's Hybrid, balbisana, Chini Champa and FHIA hybrids (tetraploid). If you cross a diploid with a tetraploid then you will obtaiin one triploid seedless fruit banana! FHIA hybrids are disease resistant fruit bananas. If you cross FHIA hybrids with basjoo then you might get one hardy AND disease resistant fruit banana!

Yes, it's necessary to castrate the banana flower stalk before the male flowers will open. When the female begin to show then cut the stalk top with still closed male flowers off.

One cross between basjoo and velutina onliy will be possible by one DNA fusion in one laboratory, after the DNA fusion the cross will grown by tissue culture.

Anybody has already crossed basjoo with sikkimensis???

Best wishes
Basjoofriend

bigdog

It is possible to cross Eumusa with Rhodochlamys, Basjoofriend. Musa balbisiana X velutina has been done, and plants are growing!

Basjoofriend

Yes. To get a hardy fruit banana, you need to cross basjoo with sikkimensis, Helen's Hybrid or Gold Finger (FHIA-01).

Sorry, I believed that velutina is one Callimusa. That's wrong, you are right, velutina is a rhodoclamys. I do remember that there is also one hybrid between ornata and acuminata or so like.

But one velutina hybrid with basjoo will be hardier than velutina and you will be able overwinter this hybrid outdoors with basjoo winter protection in colder areas.

You see, we need more hardy bananas which are as hardy as basjoo, also fruit bananas which are as hardy as basjoo.

Best wishes
Basjoofriend

paulpalm

I like the idea of a basjoo x sikkimensus hybrid. ever hear of this out there?

aroidgrower

It sounds like a great hybrid. It can be a bit hard to get them both to flower at the same time. I have a very hard time here further north were my season is cut so short. I do the the seedlings from the above possible cross growing. I have no idea if the cross took as they say it could easily be self pollinated and very unlikely that my cross took but a few of the seedlings are around 1 foot tall and look promising. I will grow them out this coming season and compare them.

jeffreyp

Here is a website that listed quite a few hybrids some with musa basjoo, so crosses are possible. It also appears mysore makes a good parent with basjoo.

http://www.ias.ac.in/jarch/jgenet/43/337.pdf

Basjoofriend

Hi,

much thanks for the PDF document. I also have 2 Mysore and the basjoo in Brazil, I will try this cross. Also FHIA-18 I will try to cross with basjoo, I do have 2 plants of FHIA-18.

Is Musa "Rio" also available in Brazil?

Is one cross also on the another way possible, Musa basjoo pollinated with pollens from Mysore?

Are still plants of the cross Mysore x basjoo existing? If yes, where I can get pups? Is this also as hardy as the dad basjoo? Are the fruits of this cross edible e more like Mysore? It will be very interesting for Helton and me in Brazil!

Thanks!

Joachim