GS-3: Environment and Biodiversity
Key Highlights
- A 4.2-metre-long inflorescence (cluster of flowers) was discovered in a wild banana species (Musa indandamanensis) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- This is the longest banana inflorescence ever recorded worldwide.
- The species is endemic to the Andaman region and was first recorded in 2012 from Krishna Nala reserve forest.
- It has been classified as ‘Critically Endangered’.
- Specimens are on display at the Indian Museum in Kolkata and Andaman-Nicobar Regional Centre.
- Ex-situ conservation efforts include sapling plantations in Howrah, Prayagraj, and Andamans.
Detailed Insights
- The Campbell Bay specimen showed the largest girth (110 cm) among all trees observed, though height remained constant at 11 meters.
- Typically, cultivated banana inflorescences are about 1 metre long, whereas the wild species from ANI is significantly longer.
- The study was published in the Botany Letters journal and contributes to botanical records of wild genetic diversity.
Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved
- Inflorescence: A cluster or group of flowers arranged on a stem.
- Ex-situ conservation: Conservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats.
- Endemic species: Species restricted to a particular geographic location.
Significance
- Important for genetic conservation, biodiversity protection, and crop breeding programmes.
- Offers a natural gene source for developing high-yielding and disease-resistant banana cultivars.
- Enhances India’s profile in global biodiversity records.