Banana

* Dwarf Cavendish is widely grown and is a commercially important Cavendish cultivar. Young dwarf cavendish plants have maroon or purple blotches on their leaves. This variety of Bananas is grown in parts of Asia for mass cultivation and they are sometimes grown as tall specimen plants in gardens at the back of borders to add a touch of the tropics. These plants need significant winter protection. Basrai is a leading commercial variety of the Cavendish group of Banans. It is majorly grown commercially in Maharashtra. The stature of this plant is dwarf making it less prone to wind damage. The bunch size of Basrai, the fruit length and size is pretty good of this variety of Bananas. The Robusta variety of Bananas is generally large in size. These bananas are green colored when unripe and turn to yellow when they ripen. These Robusta Bananas can be eaten raw, used in baking, fruit salads, making desserts, fruit compotes, and to complement other foods. Red banana, also known as Lal Velchi, is the most relished and highly prized variety of bananas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The bananas are sweet, orange-yellow coloured and with a pleasant aroma. The commercial cultivation of Lal Velchi is prominent in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts of Tamil Nadu. Safed Velchi variety of banans is considered a premium quality fruit for table purposes. It is cultivated in the Thane and Nasik districts of Maharashtra. This variety of bananas is generally medium-sized. The duration of this variety of bananas is about 13 months. Safed Velchi has a slender yellowish green pseudostem and can be generally recognised by the reddish petiole margin. The Rajeli Nendran variety is said to display diversity in plant stature, pseudostem colour, presence or absence of male axis, bunch size, and such other characteristics. These bananas have a distinct neck with thick green skin which turns buff yellow on ripening. This variety of bananas remain starchy even on ripening. Grand Nain bananas are popular banana cultivars of Musa acuminata. This variety of bananas is the most commonly cultivated bananas. Grand Naine is a member of the commercial Cavendish banana cultivar group. Poovan is a leading commercial cultivar grown throughout the country. Generally cultivated as a perennial crop, Tamil Nadu is the leading producer of Poovan cultivar. This variety is also commercially cultivated for leaf industry throughout Tamil Nadu and in certain parts of Kerala. The banana is slightly acidic but is firm and has a sour-sweet aroma.