Musaceae

The Ensetespp. belonging to the family Musaceae, are the wild banana, cultivated in tropical and subtropical region of Asia and Africa. This genus consists of 7-8 species and is known for its broad genetic base. Ensete superbum(Roxb.) Cheesman, commonly known as "Rankeli", "Wild banana" and "Rock banana", occurs in Indian subcontinent, mostly endemic to Western Ghats. It is a perennial shrub inhabiting rock edges, crevices and rocky barren lands. The plant has wide therapeutic potential and is used in various ailments like diabetes, kidney stone, leucorrhoea, dysuria etc. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the phytochemicals in various plant part extracts as it is of high medicinal value. The results showed that alkaloidsandphenols are significantly high in leaves of Ensete superbum. Alkaloids are also found in significant amount in corm and root. The ethanol and water extract gave excellent results compared to other organic solvents. This type of work is reported for the first time.

Feed intake, in vivo nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization were evaluated in male sheep fed different fractions (leaf, pseudostem, corm, whole plant) of enset, untreated or 2% urea- and 3% calcium oxide- (CaO or lime) treated wheat straw and Desmodium intortum hay as sole diets. All feeds, except D. intortum hay and enset leaf had low crude protein (CP) content. Non-fiber carbohydrate contents were higher in enset fractions, especially in pseudostem and corm relative to other feeds. Enset leaf and pseudostem had high calcium, phosphorus and manganese contents. Corm, whole enset and D. intortum hay were rich sources of zinc. Daily dry matter and CP intakes were higher (p < 0.05) in sheep fed D. intortum hay (830 and 133 g, respectively) than those fed pseudostem (92 and 7.8 g, respectively). Organic matter digestibilities were highest for corm (0.780) and whole enset (0.776) and lowest for D. intortum hay (0.534) and untreated wheat straw (0.522). The CP digestibility ranged from 0.636 in D. intortum hay to 0.408 in corm. Nitrogen (N) balance was highest (p < 0.05) in D. intortum hay (10.4 g/day) and lowest in corm (−1.3 g/day). Enset leaf could be a useful protein supplement whereas the pseudostem and corm could be good sources of energy.

Pollen viability on bananas (Musa L.) both wild species and cultivated varieties/cultivars is a basic information for further banana breeding program. The objective of this study was to evaluate the viability of pollen grains of 2 wild species (M. acuminata ssp. rutilifes and M. balbisiana) and 17 banana cultivars collection of Purwodadi Botanic Garden – Indonesian Institute of Sciences. Pollen viability analysis was conducted by staining test using 1% solution of 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), then observed with light microscope Olympus CX31 at 40 magnification. Red-stained pollen grains were considered viable/fertile. Percentage of pollen stainability was calculated to determine the level of pollen viability of each banana sample. Clustering analysis was also conducted using PAST software to determine the pollen viability pattern among bananas. Results showed that pollen viability of bananas were varies, differed between genomic groups but clustered within genomic groups, so that pollen viability may utilised in the banana taxonomy. Among wild species, M. acuminata ssp. rutilifes (AAw) has higher pollen viability than M. balbisiana (BBw) i.e. 99.75% and 46.36% respectively. Banana cultivars with genomic group AA, AAA, and AAB has pollen viability of more than 60%, i.e. Mas, Raja Molo, Ambon Hong, Seribu, Nangka, Morosebo, Raja Kenanga and Cebol. Pisang Mas (AA) and Raja Molo (AAA) have high pollen viability i.e. 94.83% and 94.33%, respectively. Pisang Jambe (AA) was an outlier with low pollen viability (19.51%), and need further observation. Whilst, banana cultivars with genomic group ABB has pollen viability less than 30%; with only 2 banana cultivars i.e. Kepok Putih and Sri that has viable pollen (>30%). This preliminary result suggests that in addition to wild banana species, banana cultivars with two or more A genomes also might be useful as male parents with high viability of pollen grains.

A highly efficient three-step protocol for in vitro propagation of Ensete ventricosum (enset) was developed that consisted of initiation, bud proliferation, and shoot elongation and rooting stages. At the initiation stage, it was crucial to use shoot tips (5-8 mm) with subtending corm tissues as explants to obtain growth. The addition of 0.5-1% (w/v) activated charcoal to the medium was essential to prevent phenol exudation which otherwise leads to the loss of cultures. During the bud proliferation stage, modified MS macronutrients and micronutrients together with a combination of cytokinins (1.6 mM naphthaleneacetic acid, 4.4 mM 6-benzylaminopurine, 23.2 mM kinetin, 22.6 mM N 6 2-isopentyladenine) was used. This novel composition of macronutrients was based on the analysis of leaf nutrient content of glasshouse-grown enset sprouts. Multiple bud formation on the enlarged corm tissue was induced only when the meristem region was wounded before transfer to the bud proliferation medium. Up to 75 healthy shoots per explant were produced, whereas unwounded explants produced, only one to two shoots per explant. A third stage with a low concentration of cytokinin enabled shoot elongation as well as root development. The plantlets were acclimatized with 100% success and they showed no apparent phenotypical deviation.

Pisang Raja is well-known banana cultivars in Indonesia. Particularly in Java, there are not less than 40 local cultivars of Pisang Raja were recorded which needs to be clearly classified and identified. Genomic group identifications were conducted both morphology and molecular to thirteen local cultivars of Pisang Raja originated from Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java collection of Purwodadi Botanic Garden – Indonesian Institute of Sciences. Morphological identification was using taxonomic scoring of fifteen dianogstic characters between M. acuminata and M. balbisiana wild species as their ancestral parents, whereas molecular identification was using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism/PCR-RFLP of Internal Transcribed Spacer/ITS method. Result showed that genomic group of 13 Pisang Raja local cultivars based on morphology consists of 8 AAB, 3 ABB, and 2 AAA; whereas molecular result consists of 4 AAB, 3 ABB, and 6 AAA. About 4 out of 8 banana cultivars which identified as AAB morphologically were revealed as AAA molecularly. Molecular approach using PCR-RFLP of ITS to identify genomic group of Pisang Raja local cultivars provide more objective, consistent and reliable result, also less time-consuming than morphology. Nonetheles morphological description of bananas is still necessary to conduct as part of a longer-term systematic evaluation and selection basis for further utilization and development. Genomic group result of Pisang Raja local cultivars examined are as follows: Raja Bandung (ABB), Raja Siem (ABB), Raja Prentel (ABB), Raja Gintung (AAB), Raja Temen (AAB), Raja Lingi (AAB), Raja Marto (AAB), Raja Kenanga (AAA), Raja Ketan (AAA), Raja Nangka (AAA), Raja Pendek (AAA), Raja Talun (AAA) and Raja Warangan (AAA).

Urolithiasis is a common worldwide problem with high recurrence. This review covers thirty six (36) families starting from alphabet M to R. It includes Rubiaceae (17); Phyllanthaceae and Rutaceae (09); Polygonaceae (08); Pinaceae and Piperaceae (06) (01) plant used globally in different countries. Hopefully, this review will not only be useful for the general public but also attract the scientific world for antiurolithiatic drug discovery.

False banana /Ensete ventricosum [Welw.] Cheesman/ is exploited as a food crop in Ethiopia where it represents an important staple food. The plant is harvested and large amounts of biomass residues are originated, mainly from the pseudo stem (i.e., fiber bundles obtained from the leaf sheaths after being scrapped to produce starchy food) and the inflorescence stalk. These materials were studied in relation to their summative chemical composition, composition of lignin, lipophilic and polar extracts. Moreover, their structural characteristics, in view of their valorization, were scrutinized. The analytical studies were performed with the aid of FTIR, GC/MS, Py-GC/MS and SEM. The fiber bundles are aggregates of mainly long and slender fibers with low ash, extractives and lignin contents (3.8%. 4.4% and 10.5% respectively) and high holocellulose and α-cellulose contents (87.5% and 59.6% respectively). The hemicelluloses in the fibers are mostly highly acetylated xylans and the lignin i...

Background: Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) belongs to the order sctaminae, the family musaceae. The Musaceae family is subdivided into the genera Musa and Ensete. Enset is an important staple crop for about 20 million people in the country. Recent publications on enset ethnobotany are insignificant when compared to the diverse ethnolingustic communities in the country. Hence, this paper try to identify and document wealth of indigenous knowledge associated with the distribution, diversity, and management of enset in the country. Methods: The study was conducted in eight ethnic groups in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Regional State. In order to identify and document wealth of indigenous knowledge, the data was collected mainly through individual interviews and direct on-farm participatory monitoring and observation with 320 farm households, key informant interviews. Relevant secondary data, literature and inter-personal data were collected from unpublished progress report from National Enset Research Project, elderly people and senior experts. Results: Enset-based farming system is one of a major agricultural system in Ethiopia that serves as a backbone for at least ¼ of country's population. Farmers used three morphological characters, two growth attributes, disease resistance and five use values traits in folk classification and characterization of enset. A total of 312 folk landraces have been identified. The number of landraces cultivated on individual farms ranged from one to twenty eight (mean of 8.08 ± 0.93). All ethnic groups in the study area use five use categories in order of importance: kocho yield and quality, bulla quality, amicho use, fiber quality and medicinal/ritual value. Of the 312 landraces 245 landraces having more than two use types. Management and maintenance of on-farm enset diversity is influenced by systematic propagation of the landraces, exchange of planting material and selective pressure. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the existing farmers' knowledge on naming, classification and diversity should be complemented with maintenance of the creative dynamics of traditional knowledge and transmission of the knowledge are crucial for constructing sustainable management.

Background: Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman is a major food security crop in Southern Ethiopia, where it was originally domesticated and during millennia became pivotal crop around which an entire farming system has developed. Although its cultivation is highly localized, the enset-based farming system provides sustenance to more than 20 million people. Precise ethnobotanical information of intra-specific enset diversity and local knowledge on how communities maintain, manage and benefit from enset genetic resources is imperative for the promotion, conservation and improvement of this crop and its farming system. Methods: This study was conducted in Southern Ethiopia among the Wolaita 'enset culture' community. The research sample consisted of 270 households from 12 Kebeles (villages) representing three agro-ecological ranges. By establishing Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) based interactions and applying ethnobotanical interviewing methods of free-listing and open-ended questionnaires, information on the use and management of enset diversity, and its associated folk-biosystematics, food traditions and material culture was collected and analyzed. Results: While enset agriculture is seen as cultural heritage and identity for the Wolaita, enset intra-specific diversity holds scenic, prestige and symbolic values for the household. In the present study we recorded 67 enset landraces under cultivation, and through a comprehensive literature review we identified 28 landraces reported from other areas of Wolaita, but not encountered in our survey. Landraces, identified using 11 descriptors primarily related to agro-morphological traits, are named after perceived places of origin, agro-morphological characteristics and cooking quality attributes. Folk classification of enset is based on its domestication status, 'gender', agro-ecological adaptability and landrace suitability for different food and other uses (fiber, feed, medicinal). Enset as a food crop is used to prepare 10 different dishes in Wolaita, 8 of which are exclusively prepared using enset, and their consumption ranges from daily staple to specialty food in festive occasions and ceremonies. On-farm landrace diversity and richness is guided by household needs; its dynamics is managed through regular propagation, harvesting restrain, control of landrace composition and arrangement in the enset homegardens. Conclusions: This study reported on the knowledge system, socio-cultural process and community practices that drive the maintenance of intra-specific on-farm enset diversity in Wolaita, Southern Ethiopia. The information is crucial for developing community based complementary in situ and ex situ conservation strategies to foster conservation of enset genetic resources and associated indigenous knowledge system.

Background The classification of the Musaceae (banana) family species and their phylogenetic inter-relationships remain controversial, in part due to limited nucleotide information to complement the morphological and physiological characters. In this work the evolutionary relationships within the Musaceae family were studied using 13 species and DNA sequences obtained from a set of 19 unlinked nuclear genes. Results The 19 gene sequences represented a sample of ~16 kb of genome sequence (~73% intronic). The sequence data were also used to obtain estimates for the divergence times of the Musaceae genera and Musa sections. Nucleotide variation within the sample confirmed the close relationship of Australimusa and Callimusa sections and showed that Eumusa and Rhodochlamys sections are not reciprocally monophyletic, which supports the previous claims for the merger between the two latter sections. Divergence time analysis supported the previous dating of the Musaceae crown age to the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary (~ 69 Mya), and the evolution of Musa to ~50 Mya. The first estimates for the divergence times of the four Musa sections were also obtained. Conclusions The gene sequence-based phylogeny presented here provides a substantial insight into the course of speciation within the Musaceae. An understanding of the main phylogenetic relationships between banana species will help to fine-tune the taxonomy of Musaceae.

Background: The classification of the Musaceae (banana) family species and their phylogenetic interrelationships remain controversial, in part due to limited nucleotide information to complement the morphological and physiological characters. In this work the evolutionary relationships within the Musaceae family were studied using 13 species and DNA sequences obtained from a set of 19 unlinked nuclear genes. Results: The 19 gene sequences represented a sample of~16 kb of genome sequence (~73% intronic). The sequence data were also used to obtain estimates for the divergence times of the Musaceae genera and Musa sections. Nucleotide variation within the sample confirmed the close relationship of Australimusa and Callimusa sections and showed that Eumusa and Rhodochlamys sections are not reciprocally monophyletic, which supports the previous claims for the merger between the two latter sections. Divergence time analysis supported the previous dating of the Musaceae crown age to the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary (~69 Mya), and the evolution of Musa to~50 Mya. The first estimates for the divergence times of the four Musa sections were also obtained. Conclusions: The gene sequence-based phylogeny presented here provides a substantial insight into the course of speciation within the Musaceae. An understanding of the main phylogenetic relationships between banana species will help to fine-tune the taxonomy of Musaceae.

h i g h l i g h t s Six Colombian agroindustrial wastes were used for glucose syrup production. A techno-economic analysis for glucose syrup production was made. An environmental analysis of glucose syrup production was made. Energy cost is an important factor for the total production cost of syrups. Heat integration strategy is suggested for syrup production.

Biosynthetic O-methylation at various sites along the backbone of inducible phenylphenalenones in Musa acuminata var. ''Williams" (Musaceae) and Wachendorfia thyrsiflora (Haemodoraceae) was investigated using 13 C-labelled precursors. The inducibility of O-methylated metabolites was demonstrated in both species and the origin of methoxyl group from [methyl-13 C]L-methionine was confirmed. In addition to known phenylphenalenones, a methoxylated metabolite, 4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)benzo[de]isochromene-1,3-dione, was detected and its structure elucidated mainly by NMR spectroscopic techniques. The experiments were used to discriminate methionine-derived and artificial methoxy groups formed during methanolic extraction. Finally, demethylation of 4 0-methoxycinnamic acid and subsequent conversion to 3 0 ,4 0-methylenedioxycinnamic acid was demonstrated in M. acuminata.

False banana /Ensete ventricosum [Welw.] Cheesman/ is exploited as a food crop in Ethiopia where it represents an important staple food. The plant is harvested and large amounts of biomass residues are originated, mainly from the pseudo stem (i.e., fiber bundles obtained from the leaf sheaths after being scrapped to produce starchy food) and the inflorescence stalk. These materials were studied in relation to their summative chemical composition, composition of lignin, lipophilic and polar extracts. Moreover, their structural characteristics, in view of their valorization, were scrutinized. The analytical studies were performed with the aid of FTIR, GC/MS, Py-GC/MS and SEM. The fiber bundles are aggregates of mainly long and slender fibers with low ash, extractives and lignin contents (3.8%. 4.4% and 10.5% respectively) and high holocellulose and α-cellulose contents (87.5% and 59.6% respectively). The hemicelluloses in the fibers are mostly highly acetylated xylans and the lignin is of the H-type (H:G:S, 1:0.7:0.8). This lignin composition is in line with the FTIR peaks at 1670 cm-1 and 1250 cm-1 .The inflorescence stalk has high ash content (12.3% in the main stalk and 24.6% in fines) with a major proportion of potassium, high extractives (25.9%), and low lignin and α-cellulose contents (5.8% and 17.9% respectively). The stalk includes numerous starch granules in the cellular structure with the predominant presence of parenchyma. The potential valorization routes for these materials are clearly different. The fiber bundles could be used as a fiber source for paper pulp production with the possibility of a prior hemicelluloses removal while the inflorescence stalk has nutritional value for food and fodder. Furthermore, it can also be used for sugar fermentation products.

Background: Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) belongs to the order sctaminae, the family musaceae. The Musaceae family is subdivided into the genera Musa and Ensete. Enset is an important staple crop for about 20 million people in the country. Recent publications on enset ethnobotany are insignificant when compared to the diverse ethnolingustic communities in the country. Hence, this paper try to identify and document wealth of indigenous knowledge associated with the distribution, diversity, and management of enset in the country. Methods: The study was conducted in eight ethnic groups in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Regional State. In order to identify and document wealth of indigenous knowledge, the data was collected mainly through individual interviews and direct on-farm participatory monitoring and observation with 320 farm households, key informant interviews. Relevant secondary data, literature and inter-personal data were collected from unpublished progress report from National Enset Research Project, elderly people and senior experts. Results: Enset-based farming system is one of a major agricultural system in Ethiopia that serves as a backbone for at least ¼ of country's population. Farmers used three morphological characters, two growth attributes, disease resistance and five use values traits in folk classification and characterization of enset. A total of 312 folk landraces have been identified. The number of landraces cultivated on individual farms ranged from one to twenty eight (mean of 8.08 ± 0.93). All ethnic groups in the study area use five use categories in order of importance: kocho yield and quality, bulla quality, amicho use, fiber quality and medicinal/ritual value. Of the 312 landraces 245 landraces having more than two use types. Management and maintenance of on-farm enset diversity is influenced by systematic propagation of the landraces, exchange of planting material and selective pressure. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the existing farmers' knowledge on naming, classification and diversity should be complemented with maintenance of the creative dynamics of traditional knowledge and transmission of the knowledge are crucial for constructing sustainable management.

A highly efficient three-step protocol for in vitro propagation of Ensete ventricosum (enset) was developed that consisted of initiation, bud proliferation, and shoot elongation and rooting stages. At the initiation stage, it was crucial to use shoot tips (5-8 mm) with subtending corm tissues as explants to obtain growth. The addition of 0.5-1% (w/v) activated charcoal to the medium was essential to prevent phenol exudation which otherwise leads to the loss of cultures. During the bud proliferation stage, modified MS macronutrients and micronutrients together with a combination of cytokinins (1.6 mM naphthaleneacetic acid, 4.4 mM 6-benzylaminopurine, 23.2 mM kinetin, 22.6 mM N 6 2-isopentyladenine) was used. This novel composition of macronutrients was based on the analysis of leaf nutrient content of glasshouse-grown enset sprouts. Multiple bud formation on the enlarged corm tissue was induced only when the meristem region was wounded before transfer to the bud proliferation medium. Up to 75 healthy shoots per explant were produced, whereas unwounded explants produced, only one to two shoots per explant. A third stage with a low concentration of cytokinin enabled shoot elongation as well as root development. The plantlets were acclimatized with 100% success and they showed no apparent phenotypical deviation.

Feed intake, in vivo nutrient digestibility and nitrogen utilization were evaluated in male sheep fed different fractions (leaf, pseudostem, corm, whole plant) of enset, untreated or 2% urea-and 3% calcium oxide-(CaO or lime) treated wheat straw and Desmodium intortum hay as sole diets. All feeds, except D. intortum hay and enset leaf had low crude protein (CP) content. Non-fiber carbohydrate contents were higher in enset fractions, especially in pseudostem and corm relative to other feeds. Enset leaf and pseudostem had high calcium, phosphorus and manganese contents. Corm, whole enset and D. intortum hay were rich sources of zinc. Daily dry matter and CP intakes were higher (p < 0.05) in sheep fed D. intortum hay (830 and 133 g, respectively) than those fed pseudostem (92 and 7.8 g, respectively). Organic matter digestibilities were highest for corm (0.780) and whole enset (0.776) and lowest for D. intortum hay (0.534) and untreated wheat straw (0.522). The CP digestibility ranged from 0.636 in D. intortum hay to 0.408 in corm. Nitrogen (N) balance was highest (p < 0.05) in D. intortum hay (10.4 g/day) and lowest in corm ()1.3 g/day). Enset leaf could be a useful protein supplement whereas the pseudostem and corm could be good sources of energy.

Background: The banana family (Musaceae) includes genetically a diverse group of species and their diploid and polyploid hybrids that are widely cultivated in the tropics. In spite of their socio-economic importance, the knowledge of Musaceae genomes is basically limited to draft genome assemblies of two species, Musa acuminata and M. balbisiana. Here we aimed to complement this information by analyzing repetitive genome fractions of six species selected to represent various phylogenetic groups within the family.

Background: The classification of the Musaceae (banana) family species and their phylogenetic inter-relationships remain controversial, in part due to limited nucleotide information to complement the morphological and physiological characters. In this work the evolutionary relationships within the Musaceae family were studied using 13 species and DNA sequences obtained from a set of 19 unlinked nuclear genes.

Genes coding for 45S ribosomal RNA are organized in tandem arrays of up to several thousand copies and contain 18S, 5.8S and 26S rRNA units separated by internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2. While the rRNA units are evolutionary conserved, ITS show high level of interspecific divergence and have been used frequently in genetic diversity and phylogenetic studies. In this work we report on the structure and diversity of the ITS region in 87 representatives of the family Musaceae. We provide the first detailed information on ITS sequence diversity in the genus Musa and describe the presence of more than one type of ITS sequence within individual species. Both Sanger sequencing of amplified ITS regions and whole genome 454 sequencing lead to similar phylogenetic inferences. We show that it is necessary to identify putative pseudogenic ITS sequences, which may have negative effect on phylogenetic reconstruction at lower taxonomic levels. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on ITS seq...