Source: TH
Context: A wild banana species Musa indandamanensis from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has recorded the world’s longest banana infructescence at 4.2 metres.
About Longest Banana Infructescence (Musa indandamanensis):
- What it is:
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- An infructescence is the complete fruiting part of a plant.
- The 4.2-metre-long infructescence was found in Musa indandamanensis, a wild banana species endemic to Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Key Features:
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- Found in Campbell Bay, Nicobar group; tree height ~11 m, stem girth ~110 cm.
- Previously, infructescences up to 3 m were recorded; the new one sets a world record.
- Specimens are displayed in Indian Museum, Kolkata, and regional botanical museums.
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered — according to recent conservation assessments.
- Significance:
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- Serves as a genetic reservoir for developing disease-resistant and high-yield banana varieties.
- Conserved ex-situ at A.J.C. Bose Indian Botanic Garden and other regional botanical centres.
