Seed Industry

Banana Variety Nendran (AAB)

10 December 2023, New DelhiBanana Variety Nendran (AAB) Is also known as French Plantain, Ethakkai, Myndoli, and Rajeli. It is a popular plantain variety of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The duration of the crop is 10-11 months. In Kerala, it is used both as fresh fruit and as cooked or fried as chips. The chips made out of this variety are very popular.

The average bunch weight is 10-12 kg with 4-5 hands. They are loosely packed with 40-50 fruits/bunch. Fruits are larger and plumpy with long pedicels. The length of the fruit is 20-25 cm and the width is 15-16 cm. Fruits turn buff yellow on ripening. The pulp is starchy, pinkish, or orange-fleshed, rich in ca- rotenoid content (1200 g/100g), and remains starchy even after ripening.

The pulp is powdery to mealy in texture and has a TSS content of 18-20° B with a long shelf life. Fruits are rich in Carotenoids and known for their medicinal property. Fruits are highly suitable for chips and powder industries.

Banana powder is prepared from raw fruit and has multiple utilities such as ‘baby food’, ‘health drinks’, ‘biscuits’, ‘breads’, and ‘chapattis’. The fully ripe fruit is steam-boiled and fed to babies after thoroughly smashing the pulp.

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