Quote:
Originally Posted by Basjoofriend
A acuminata-like species from the very cold highlands in China might bear edible fruits when it is triploidized, one hardy form of the famous Canary Banana Dwarf Cavendish, Hardy Dwarf Cavendish!
Might be much better than Musa basjoo as one cross partner if hardy to zone 6 (of course with basjoo winter protection, hardier than Musa sikkimensis, perhaps even some hardier than Musa basjoo). It will be best, to cross the new acuminata-like hardy banana with Helen's Hybrid, Chini Champa and sikkimensis, it will get good fruits.
Oh yes, how is the new hardy acuminata-like species described and named? Pictures? It could be for my banana book!
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Well, you would need to do a lot more than just triploidize it, remember that being triploid has nothing to do with being parthenocarpic, a plant must first be parthenocarpic to form seedless fruit, being triploid simply is an advantage because it usually helps keep the plant sterile so seeds do not form (in addition to other advantages). This is why in order to utilize wild species for breeding, they must be bred with an edible variety that has the parthenocarpic trait (which is a chemical process independent from ploidy levels), if you just make wild species triploid, you will have sterile plants that are not able to form ripe fruit either.
The new highland one does not have a name yet as it is not published. There are many new species in China (and all over Asia for that matter), they may be published in the next few years or so or maybe longer, it takes a long to properly study them and publish them.