Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 12.4 Classification and grouping of Musaceae and its cultivated and wild forms (Reprinted
from Valmayor et al. [
14
] with permission from Ramon V. Valmayor)
Domestication
Abaca is native to the Philippines and northern Indonesia. It was introduced to
Sumatra in 1925 [
17
]. There were unsuccessful attempts to introduce the crop in
India in 1822, as well as in German East Africa, West Indies, and Florida, USA.
Prior to the 1920s, abaca cultivation is unknown outside of the Philippines, and it is
believed that Filipinos are the first to domesticate abaca [
3
]. Successful cultivation
has been reported in other Southeast Asian countries as well as in Central America
and Ecuador. At present, it is also grown in Equatorial Guinea and Kenya.
Genetic Resources
Abaca is believed to have the Philippines as its center of origin, from where it then
spread southward to Borneo [
3
,
18
]. Based on the Vavilonian crop centers of origin,
the abaca is known to be from the Indo-Malayan center. The Philippine archipelago
lies within the area of greatest
Musa
diversity.
Musa balbisiana
Colla,
Musa
acuminata
Colla, and
Musa textilis
Nee are indigenous to the Philippines
(Fig.
12.3
). Their natural distribution overlaps, and since they are cross compatible,
several interspecific hybrid forms are known to occur in nature, adding to the great
wealth of
Musa
germplasm in the country [
14
].
Historically, the first germplasm collections of
Musa
species in the Philippines
started during the Spanish era with the initiative of Spanish friar Manuel Blanco,
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