STUDIES ON DIFFERENT BANANA VARIETIES OF KALIABOR SUB-DIVISION OF ASSAM, INDIA AND ESTIMATION OF THEIR SUGAR CONTENT

Abstract [English]

Banana is the common name for the plants of the genus Musa. It is considered as one of the oldest cultivated plant in India. It is a very common fruit in India. The fruit belongs to the family Musaceae and it contains low saturated fats, cholesterol. It is also a good source of dietary fibre, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron and a very good source of vitamin B6. Kaliabor is a subdivision of Nagaon district situated in the middle part of the state of Assam. The area of the subdivision is 947.40 sq. km. Main occupation of the people of the Sub Division is agriculture. Apart from the principal cultivation of rice people also cultivates different fruit plants of which banana occupies one of the important position. Since time immemorial people of Kaliabor Sub Division have been cultivating different varieties of bananas. In the present investigation a survey work on bananas cultivated by the people of the area is carried out in the villages of Kaliabor Subdivision. An attempt was also made to estimate the sugar content of some of the banana varieties found in the Sub Division. The present study reveals the presence of 35 varieties of banana in Kaliabor sub-division, out of which 33 species are edible and 2 are ornamental. The total sugar content and reducing sugar of Amrit sagar banana (Musa acuminate Colla), Bhim banana (Musa balbisiana Colla), Chenichampa banana (Musa champa Hort.), Hoindha banana (Musa spp.), Hunda banana (Musa spp.), Jahaji banana (Musa chinensis Sweet.), Kachulopa banana (Musa spp.), Kach banana (Musa paradisica L.), Malbhog banana (Musa valutina (Wendil. & Drude)), Monohor banana (Musa sapientum L.) were estimated and Manuhar banana ((Musa sapientum L.)) topped the list with 0.8442 gm total sugar content and 0.06642 gm reducing sugar followed by others.