Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Musa balbisiana; Japanese fiber banana, Balbisiana banana

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

2

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

2

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

y

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

y

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

n

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

n

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

n

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

y

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

Y

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

n

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

y

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

y

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

n

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

3

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

n

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

n

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

-2

Source

Notes

1.01

No evidence

1.02

No evidence of naturalization.

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1) 'Obscure but exciting 'new' Banana from North-east India, the Musa balbisiana is perhaps one of the progenitors of the commercial banana.' (2)Musa balbisiana grows wild in India and south-east Asia and into China.

(1)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/MusBal.shtml (2)http://www.kobakoba.co.uk/musa%20balbisiana.htm

2.02

2.03

(1)Depending upon the local climate, bananas may be grown from sea level to 6,562 ft (2,000 m) (2)USDA Zones 8-11

(1)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MG040 (2)http://www.floridata.com/ref/M/musa.cfm

2.04

(1) 'Obscure but exciting 'new' Banana from North-east India, the Musa balbisiana is perhaps one of the progenitors of the commercial banana.' (2)Musa balbisiana grows wild in India and south-east Asia and into China.

(1)http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/pix/MusBal.shtml (2)http://www.kobakoba.co.uk/musa%20balbisiana.htm

2.05

(1)Florida (2)Germany (3) United Kingdom

(1)www.albion.edu/plants/musabafl.htm (2)http://www.tropengarten.com/ (3)www.kobakoba.co.uk/musa%20sections.htm

3.01

No evidence of naturalization.

3.02

No evidence

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence

http://www.kobakoba.co.uk/musa%20balbisiana.htm

4.02

No evidence

4.03

No evidence

4.04

Apparen digestibility of all nutrients in banana pseudostem was greater in cattle, but apparent digestibility of banana leaf was greater

Gerona, G. R.; Sanchez, S. L.; Posas, O. B.; Anduyan, G. A. P.; Jaya, A. F.; Barrientos, C. G. 1986. Utilization of banana plant residue by ruminants. ED: Dixon, R. M. Ruminant feeding systems utilizing fibrous agricultural residues - 1986. Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Workshop of the Australian-Asian Fibrous Agricultural Residues Research Network, Los Baños, 1-3 April , 1987, pp.147-151

4.05

Apparen digestibility of all nutrients in banana pseudostem was greater in cattle, but apparent digestibility of banana leaf was greater

Gerona, G. R.; Sanchez, S. L.; Posas, O. B.; Anduyan, G. A. P.; Jaya, A. F.; Barrientos, C. G. 1986. Utilization of banana plant residue by ruminants. ED: Dixon, R. M. Ruminant feeding systems utilizing fibrous agricultural residues - 1986. Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Workshop of the Australian-Asian Fibrous Agricultural Residues Research Network, Los Baños, 1-3 April , 1987, pp.147-151

4.06

Panama disease (Fusarium wilt) occurs especially in very acid soils. It lives in the soil and is spread by planting infected suckers. Use resistant varieties.  Bacterial wilt (moka) is another wilt, in which an oozing from the cut rhizome occurs, often on wet lands. It is controlled by planting clean material on clean soil.  Nematodes, especially the burrowing nematode, destroy the roots and reduce growth. Clean, treated planting material is used for control.

http://www.echonet.org/tropicalag/technotes/BananaCo.pdf

4.07

No evidence

4.08

lush plant of wet tropics

4.09

(1)sun (2)moderately shade tolerant (up to 50%) (3)The plants grow best in full sun. (4)They do best in full sun. (5)While bananas grow best in full sun, they tolerate shade very well

(1)http://www.kobakoba.co.uk/musa%20balbisiana.htm (2)http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/BODY_MG040 (3)http://www.slm.bm/banana.htm (4)http://www.floridata.com/ref/M/musa.cfm (5)http://www.echonet.org/tropicalag/technotes/BananaCo.pdf

4.1

Bananas are adaptable to a wide variety of soils but are least productive in sandy soils. Some of the best bananas in the world are grown in heavy soils.

http://www.echonet.org/tropicalag/technotes/BananaCo.pdf

4.11

No evidence - not a vine.

http://www.kobakoba.co.uk/musa%20balbisiana.htm

4.12

No evidence

5.01

'Musa balbisiana is a large or very large plant in nature growing to 7 m. or more with leaves 3 m. long and 80 cm. Wide…'

http://www.kobakoba.co.uk/musa%20balbisiana.htm

5.02

5.03

5.04

http://www.qbgardens.com/plantInfo/plantInfo.htm

6.01

'Air dried seeds of Musa balbisiana with a moisture content of 13.18% were found to survive exposure to liquid nitrogen. After rapid thawing over 90% of the embryos germinated into seedlings.'

Bhat-S-R {a}; Bhat-K-V; Chandel-K-P-S. 1994. Studies on germination and cryopreservation Musa balbisiana seed. Seed-Science-and-Technology. 22 (3) 637-640.

6.02

'Air dried seeds of Musa balbisiana with a moisture content of 13.18% were found to survive exposure to liquid nitrogen. After rapid thawing over 90% of the embryos germinated into seedlings.'

Bhat-S-R {a}; Bhat-K-V; Chandel-K-P-S. 1994. Studies on germination and cryopreservation Musa balbisiana seed. Seed-Science-and-Technology. 22 (3) 637-640.

6.03

(1) 'When it was later realized that Musa paradisiaca was also a hybrid between Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana some horticultural as opposed to botanical authors (I think perhaps dating from Moore 1957) began to use the form Musa x paradisiaca to emphasise the fact.'
(2)The principal importance of M. balbisiana is in the form of hybrids with M. acuminata

(1)http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~drc/mparadisiaca.htm (2)http://www.kobakoba.co.uk/musa%20balbisiana.htm

6.04

shells.

http://www.naturalhub.com/natural_food_guide_fruit_common.htm

6.05

shells.

http://www.naturalhub.com/natural_food_guide_fruit_common.htm

6.06

Suckers at the base but not spread naturally by fragmentation

6.07

R. Criley, UH Department of Horticulture, personal communication [from seed]

7.01

No evidence

7.02

Probably yes as the plant is valued for its fruits.

7.03

large, fleshy fruit.

7.04

large, fleshy fruit.

7.05

large, fleshy fruit.

7.06

large, fleshy fruit. Bird damage in domesticated varieties [but wild fruit looks very different]

http://www.fintrac.com/gain/guides/ph/postplan.html

7.07

large, fleshy fruit. [small seeds unlikely external dispersal]

7.08

No information on dispersal.

8.01

small-pea-sized black seeds embedded in the starchy, sweet/acidulous pulp. The size of the fruit varies according to how many seeds (i.e. how well pollinated the flower was) are present. The more seeds, the larger the fruit.

http://www.naturalhub.com/natural_food_guide_fruit_common.htm

8.02

No information regarding seed size and longevity.

8.03

No evidence that the species is being controlled for.

8.04

No information

8.05

Don’t know.