Multidisciplinary perspectives on banana (Musa spp.) domestication

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Archaeology
• Linguistics
• Ethnobotany

Background:

• The origin and diversification of banana cultivars (cvs) remain incompletely understood.
• Understanding banana domestication pathways is vital for global food security and agricultural development.

Observation:

• This research integrates genetic, archaeological, and linguistic data to reconstruct banana geodomestication.
• Analysis identifies wild ancestors and key domestication stages for various banana cv groups.

Findings:

• Genetic analyses pinpointed the wild progenitors of modern bananas.
• Archaeological and linguistic evidence illustrates the human-driven dispersal of bananas from New Guinea across the Holocene.
• Multiple domestication events and pathways were identified for different banana cv lineages.

Implications:

• The historical reconstruction provides critical insights for banana breeding programs.
• Diversifying banana cvs through understanding their evolutionary history can enhance resilience and productivity.
• This research supports efforts to improve banana cultivars for future agricultural challenges.