NRCB releases carotene-rich, 15-day shelf-life banana varieties

TIRUCHY: The National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) published two new premium-quality banana varieties, Kaveri Thangam and Kaveri Nadan, on Friday after 15 years of research at the centre.

Key points

• Earlier this year, the high-yielding Keveri Poovan variety was published by the state variety release committee during the Pongal festival.
• Dr Selvarajan asserted that Thangam is the best variety in terms of self-life and carotene content.
• Just five fruits of this variety are sufficient to meet the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin A of an adult, he remarked.
• As the variety is almost extinct due to wilt disease, the new variety will offer higher yields than Rasthali.
• Individuals are working to develop transgenic banana to rise carotene content.

Plants of these two varieties have already been distributed to 112 farmers nationwide which include major banana growing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and particularly to delta district farmers of Tamil Nadu.

Speaking regarding the 15 years of research and trials, Director of the institute Dr R Selvarajan stated, "We have conducted trials nationwide including at 82 locations in Tamil Nadu itself, and provided over 20, 000 plants to farming community to assess its quality and we received positive results. This one is similar to Rasthali. As the variety is almost extinct due to wilt disease, the new variety will offer higher yields than Rasthali. Within 10 years, this variety will be cultivated in a sizeable scale."

Dr Selvarajan asserted that Thangam is the best variety in terms of self-life and carotene content. "It is resistant to weevil infestation. It has a self life of 15 days from harvest. We can keep it for 7 days on the table and eat. Meanwhile, the golden yellow on both outside and inside will remain unchanged. Kaveri Nadan is an upgraded version of Pacha Nadan variety and gives 100% more yield that is double the yield, " he continued.

While elaborating on the new varieties, on the occasion of NRCB's 33rd Foundation Day and Kisan Mela celebration held on Friday, Director of the institute Dr R Selvarajan remarked that the pulp of the Kaveri Thangam is golden yellow, with a carotene content of 1000 micro grams per 100 grams. Just five fruits of this variety are sufficient to meet the recommended dietary allowance of Vitamin A of an adult, he remarked.

"Individuals are working to develop transgenic banana to rise carotene content. But Thangam is not a transgenic variety, it is natural variety and we obtained it through selection. When we have Kaveri Thangam, " he remarked, spending thousands of crores of rupees for transgenic research is not necessary.

Earlier this year, the high-yielding Keveri Poovan variety was published by the state variety release committee during the Pongal festival. It was developed through two decades of research and its characterized by superior yield and resilience to banana streak disease and Fusarium wilt. The NRCB's release was done at the institutional level. The state level and central committee level release will take place in December and next February respectively, he remarked.

In short, NRCB releases carotene-rich, 15-day shelf is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.