India presents its first mutant banana, designed for coastal winds

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) — India’s national facility known for nuclear science, radiation technologies, and agricultural mutation breeding — has unveiled Kaveri Vaaman, officially named Trombay Banana Mutant-9 (TBM-9). It is India’s first mutant banana variety and the first fruit crop ever developed and released by BARC through its mutation-breeding programme. The new plant originates from the economically important Grande Naine cultivar and becomes BARC’s 72nd improved crop.

BARC scientists highlight that Kaveri Vaaman’s dwarf stature gives it strong resistance to lodging — the bending or breaking of banana stems during high winds, a major issue in coastal regions. Farmers traditionally use bamboo or wooden props to support tall plants, but this variety’s natural sturdiness removes that cost.

The new variety also matures 1.5 months earlier than Grande Naine, speeding up harvest cycles while preserving the same taste and sensory qualities as the parent cultivar. Its compact size makes it well-suited for high-density plantations and even terrace gardening, benefiting both commercial growers and household users.

Kaveri Vaaman was developed using gamma radiation, a standard tool in BARC’s mutation-breeding work. After several years of screening and field trials, TBM-9 was identified for its superior characteristics. The project was carried out in collaboration with the ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR-NRCB) in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.

DAE secretary and Atomic Energy Commission chairperson Ajit Kumar Mohanty called the release “a major step in revolutionising horticultural crop improvement through the use of ionising radiation.” BARC director Vivek Bhasin added that this marks the expansion of BARC’s breeding programme from traditional crops to fruit and other vegetatively propagated plants.

source: hindustantimes.com

photo: pfionline.com