variegated 'Pama'
 

I just found this among my TC plantlets. This is Musa 'Pama', a dwarf dessert variety from Papua New Guinea. I hope it stays, it looks like its getting stronger on the next leaf that is still rolled up.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

That's awesome, Gabe! Always nice to find little unexpected treasures like that amongst your plants. Looks like you've got about 5 colors on that one!

Is Musa 'Pama' one of the short fruit-cycle varieties? What is the ploidy level?

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

it is AA, it is not a "40 day" banana (but I have 'Pisang Berlin' and 'Senorita' for that), but its is described as being small and slender and also has pollen present (I do not know if it is fertile however). I got it for breeding as it is small and seems like a nice container type banana. It is listed as a flowering cycle of 8-9 months from planting with a ratoon cycle of 7-8 months.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Wonderful find , best of luck with it.
Later
Steve

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Nice one gabe is it the only one ?

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

So far yes, but it is also the most developed so I suppose there is a chance for the others from the same batch to show some too as they grow larger.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

oh la la
congrats

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Very cool! Can't wait to see what that next leaf will look like.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Very nice Gabe.... looks great!

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Nice indeed!! Do post pics as the plant matures.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Gabe, whatever happened to this plant??? If it's doing well and you still have it, I'd like to get a pup (or TC plant) some day.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Its still alive and well but lost all of its variegation.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

That's too bad! :(

Do you think its early variegation was due to some deficiency or disease? Or what would account for this?

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Gabe this is the first I have seen of this one - how cool is that. Do you have it in TC yet? I read that it lost its variegation, was it from TC to begin?
Maybe I should move to PNG and make a living sending bananas back here!!!! What is the lineage of 'Pama'?
Hope to see more of them someday.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

It was a healthy plant, I don't know why the variegation went away but it wasn't really all that strong to begin with.


That plant was from TC. 'Pama' is a AA cooking and dessert (dual use) landrace.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Seems like PNG has all the new types of edibles. They keep discovering new types every year or something?
Nice plant BTW!

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

I received a couple of variegated basjoo from tc and they looked very promising, but as in your case, it went away. Bummer!

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

This is actually a very old variety to the people there. There are many different types of bananas out there, but only a fraction are available in the US. I got it from the Bioversity International genebank awhile back.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Gabe, Are you growing it in Ericaceous compost? Just wondered if it would require the same sort of cosseting as Aeae to help preseve the variegation.

Re: variegated 'Pama'
 

Ericaceous?! I haven't heard that word since college!! A good question, though.