- Gros Michel banana
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Musa acuminata 'Gros Michel' 
Gros Michel bananas from Jamaica.Details Species Musa acuminata Cultivar group AAA Group Cultivar 'Gros Michel' Origin Martinique, Jamaica[1] Gros Michel, often known as Big Mike, is an export cultivar of banana, and was until the 1950s the main variety exported to the United States.[2]
Contents
Taxonomy
Gros Michel is a triploid cultivar of the wild banana Musa acuminata, belonging to the AAA group.[3]
Its official designation is Musa acuminata Colla (AAA Group) cv. 'Gros Michel'.
Synonyms include:
- Musa acuminata L. cv. 'Gros Michel'
- Musa × paradisiaca L. cv. 'Gros Michel'
Gros Michel is known as Guineo Giganet, Banano, and Platano Roatan in Spanish. It is also known as Pisang Ambon in Malaysia, Pisang Embung in Indonesia, Thihmwe in Burma, and Kluai hom thong in Thailand.[3]
Description
The 1923 musical hit "Yes, We Have No Bananas" is said to have been inspired by a shortage of the "Big Mike" bananas, which began with the infestation of Panama disease early in the 20th century.[4]
By 1960, the major importers of Gros Michel bananas were nearly bankrupt, and had waited until the last minute to deal with the financial and environmental crisis. The Cavendish had to be cultivated so consumers would still be able to obtain bananas.[2]
The Honduras Foundation for Agricultural Research cultivates several varieties of the Gros Michel. They have succeeded in producing a few seeds by hand-pollinating the flowers with pollen from diploid, seeded bananas.[5]
See Also
- Banana
- Banana cultivar groups
- Cavendish banana
- Grand Nain (Chiquita banana)
- Musa acuminata
References
- ^ Robert J. Lancashire (25th August, 2006). "Jamaican bananas and plantains". The Department of Chemistry, University of the West Indies. http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm:1104/lectures/banana.html. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ^ a b Koeppel, Dan (2008-06-18). "Yes, We Will Have No Bananas" (Editorial). New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/opinion/18koeppel.html. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ a b Michel H. Porcher; Prof. Snow Barlow (19/07/2002). "Sorting Musa names". The University of Melbourne, [1]. http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Musa.html. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ^ Koeppel, Dan (19 June 2005). "Can This Fruit Be Saved?". Popsci.com. http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2005-06/can-fruit-be-saved. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ Carla Helfferich (1990). "Battling for Bananas" (in English). Alaska Science Forum. http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF9/977.html. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
External links
Bananas and Plantains Cultivars Blue Java · Cavendish · Goldfinger · Grand Nain · Gros Michel · Lady Finger · Lacatan · Latundan · Pisang Awak · Plantain · Red · Rhino Horn · Saba · SeñoritaCultivar groups AA group · AAA group (Cavendish group) · AAA-EA subgroup (East African Highland bananas) · AAAA group · AAAB group · AAA group (Plantain group) · AABB group · AB group · ABB group · ABBB group · BB Group · BBB Group
Culinary usage Banana beer · Banana bread · Banana chips · Banana cue · Bananas Foster · Banana fritter · Banana ketchup · Banana powder · Banana pudding · Banana sauce · Banana split · Banana wine · Banania · Bánh chuối · Frozen banana · Ginanggang · Matoke · Maruya · Pisang goreng · Tonto · Turrón
Related topics 
Category:Bananas
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