Latundan banana

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Musa 'Silk'
Ripe latundan bananas.jpg
Apple bananas
Hybrid parentage Musa acuminata × Musa balbisiana
Cultivar group AAB Group (Pome Group)
Cultivar 'Silk'
OriginThe Philippines

The Latundan banana (also called Tundan, silk banana, Pisang raja sereh, Manzana banana, or apple banana) is a triploid hybrid banana cultivar of the AAB "Pome" group from the Philippines. [1] It is one of the most common banana cultivars in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, along with Lacatan and Saba bananas. [2] Its Malaysian name is pisang rastali. [3]

Contents

Description

Unripe latundan bananas Latundan banana.jpg
Unripe latundan bananas

Latundan banana plants typically reach a height of 3–4 meters (9.8–13.1 ft). They require full or partial sun exposure. The flowers are yellow, purple, or ivory in color. The fruits are round-tipped with thin yellow skin that splits once fully ripe. They are smaller than the Lacatan cultivar and the commercially dominant Cavendish bananas. [4] [5] They have a slightly acidic, apple-like flavor. [6]

Taxonomy

In older classifications, the Latundan cultivar was once the plant referred to as Musa sapientum. It has since been discovered that Musa sapientum is a hybrid cultivar of the wild seeded bananas Musa balbisiana and Musa acuminata and not a species. [7]

The Latundan banana is a triploid (AAB) hybrid. [8]

Its full name is Musa acuminata × Musa balbisiana (AAB Group) 'Silk'. [1]

Uses

Culinary

Latundan bananas are popular dessert bananas that are eaten raw or cooked without the skin. [9] The shoots and stalks are eaten cooked. In Myanmar and Thailand, the flowers are cooked and eaten in some recipes.

Home Decor

Latundan bananas are also cultivated as ornamental plants. [10]

Diseases

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Latundan banana | Local Banana From Philippines". www.tasteatlas.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  2. ↑ Hautea, D.M.; G.C. Molina; C.H. Balatero; N.B. Coronado; E.B. Perez; M.T.H. Alvarez; A.O. Canama; R.H. Akuba; R.B. Quilloy; R.B. Frankie; C.S. Caspillo (19 July 2002). "Analysis of induced mutants of Philippine bananas with molecular markers". Institute of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños, FAO Corporate Document Repository. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Go Bananas with These 12 Varieties Worth Seeking Out in the Philippines". pepper.ph. 5 April 2021. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
  4. ↑ "Lacatan, Latundan & Senorita bananas". marketmanila.com. 8 March 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  5. ↑ "BANANA". Philippine Department of Agriculture. 8 March 2007. Archived from the original on 26 June 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Musa 'Silk', AAB Group". learn2grow.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Musa sapientum". users.globalnet.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2011.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ Michel H. Porcher; Prof. Snow Barlow (19 July 2002). "Sorting Musa names". The University of Melbourne. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  9. ↑ Valmayor, Ramon V. (2000). Banana Cultivar Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia. International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain. pp. 40–41. ISBN   9789719175124.
  10. ↑ Robinson, J. C. (1996). Bananas and Plantains. CAB International. pp. 150–152. ISBN   9780851989853.
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