Domestication Of Bananas And Plantain - 2771 Words

Katie Twyman May 28th, 2015 PLB 143: Gepts Domestication of Bananas and Plantain (Musa spp.) Abstract Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) are one of the major staple foods in the world. In 2006 the estimated world production of bananas was 80.6 million tons while 16.8 tons were traded (Cohen, 2011). Although bananas are common today, the origins of the banana are complex and occurred over thousands of years during multiple stages. Archeologists focused on the Kuk Valley of New Guininea, the area where the domestication of bananas supposedly took place around 8,000 BCE (Before Common Era) (Bot, 2007). The study of banana history has been difficult because banana pollen and seeds were rare or absent at archaeological sites. It wasn’t until recent technologies and the use of multi-disciplinary research that we could gain a better understanding. Genetics and linguistic studies also help in understanding the banana origin (Hirst, 2015). Diploid and triploid forms of bananas have been identified and their distribution throughout the world is a key piece of evidence in unlocking the t ruth about banana domestication. Introduction The banana (Musa spp.) is a large perennial herb with leaf sheaths that form their pseudostems, meaning they are rather giant herbs than trees. Both the plantain and banana are sterile and parthenocarpic so the fruit is seedless. The plant is made up of 8-12 leaves that are about 9ft tall and 2ft wide (Chia and Huggins, 1992). Bananas are considered theShow MoreRelatedThe Geography Of Chicken Soup1436 Words   |  6 PagesWith regard to the Cuban version of chicken soup, the same is comprised of thirteen (13) ingredients, to wit: olive (oil); onion (red and green); cilantro; cumin (ground); wheat (flour); chicken (stock and thigh); cassava; calabash; potato (red); plantain; lemon (juice); salt; and, pepper. Notwithstanding the fact that these ingredients are customarily used to make the Cuban version of chicken soup, these same ingredients were not all domesticated in the region that Cuba is located in. For exampleRead MoreCarney And Rosomoff s The Shadow Of Slavery1587 Words   |  7 Pagesthe time the Europeans arrived in Africa, the result of thousands of years of plant and animal domestication were evident. Domesticating livestock was established to provide a more dependable food source. The practice of herding in Africa allowed for a larger food supply for cattle, which meant a more reliable food supply for people. They also bred cattle to withstand specific climates. The domestication of food plants allowed for the spread of the domesticated species to places beyond its originalRead MoreHuman Animal Conflicts2609 Words   |  11 Pagesimmense damage to crops. Damage caused by wild pig is the most prominent one as they have a wide distribution. On a localized scale elephant damage is considerable. All cereals and millets are mostly damaged by elephants along with sugar cane, banana, mango, jackfruit etc. Besides this elephants also cause damage to human life and prope rty. Carnivores such as leopard, tiger, and wild dog prey upon domestic livestock either by entering the settlements in the vicinity of their habitats or whenRead MoreA Survey On Planted And Unplanted Fruit Tree Diversity Essay10131 Words   |  41 Pagesto another. In poor and rural areas, food is acquired from either own production through subsistence agriculture or from the wild through gathering simultaneously. Subsistence agriculture provide for staple foods like grains, roots, tubers, banana, plantains, cultivated fruits and vegetables (Loek et al., 2013; Tchoundjeu et al., 2012, ; Gebbers et al., 2010, ;Robiglio et al., 2010) while wild gathering provide for vegetables, fruits, nuts etc (Termont et al., 2012, ;Flyman and Afolayan 2006, ;Read MoreHunger And Undernourishment : Positioning Wild Edible Plants On Food Security And Nutrition Essay6730 Words   |  27 Pages2010; Flyman and Afolayan, 2006, Cocks et al., 2008; Termont et al., 2012; Nesbit et al., 2010; Lukasz et al., 2013; DeWeir, 2011). In all these cases, subsistence agriculture or markets provide for staple foods like grains, roots, tubers, banana and plantains while wild gathering provides vegetables, fruits, nuts and oils (Flyman and Afolayan, 2006; Termont et al., 2012). Because of the wide use of WEPs, most people have knowledge about them and in some regions have developed various management