Musa sikkimensis

Researchers at Nagaland University have conducted an extensive study on the genetic diversity of Musa sikkimensis, a wild banana species native to the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India, highlighting its importance for climate resilience, food security and sustainable agricultural development.

Commonly known as the ‘Darjeeling banana’ or ‘Sikkim banana’, Musa sikkimensis is a wild-seeded species that serves as a vital genetic reservoir. According to the research team, it possesses valuable traits such as disease resistance, environmental stress tolerance and climate adaptability — making it a crucial resource for future banana breeding and crop improvement programmes.

Although the species is not widely cultivated for edible fruit, it plays a key role in strengthening crop resilience and ensuring sustainable production systems. The study found that local banana germplasm in Nagaland exhibits strong adaptive potential across diverse environmental conditions, reinforcing the need for its conservation and scientific utilisation.

The research, titled “Exploring the Genetic Diversity of Musa sikkimensis Land Races in Nagaland”, underscores the urgent need to conserve endangered banana germplasm in one of the world’s richest biodiversity regions.

To bolster conservation efforts, Nagaland University has established a Banana Biodiversity Corridor at its Department of Horticulture. The corridor functions as a living field gene bank, integrating both in situ and ex situ conservation approaches. It also supports genetic and molecular research, climate-resilient breeding programmes, student training and national germplasm security initiatives.

Source: DD