| Musa 'Cardava' | |
|---|---|
_bananas_(Mindanao%2c_Philippines)_4.jpg) Cardava bananas fromMindanao | |
| Hybrid parentage | Musa acuminata ×Musa balbisiana |
| Cultivar group | ABB group |
| Cultivar | 'Cardava' |
| Origin | Philippines |
Cardava bananas, also spelledcardaba orkardaba, is atriploidhybrid (ABB)bananacultivar originating from thePhilippines. It is primarily acooking banana, though it can also be eaten raw. It is commonly confused with the more ubiquitous and closely relatedsaba banana because they are used identically in traditionalFilipino cuisine. Their common names can be interchanged in everyday usage though they are different cultivars.[1]
Like saba bananas, cardava bananas have very large and robustpseudostems, growing up to a height of 4.5 m (15 ft), and a diameter of 68 cm (2.23 ft). It takes around 339 days to flower, and 479 days for the fruits to be ready to harvest. Each bunch contains around 150 fruits in 9 hands. The fruits are distinctively larger than saba bananas and have a rounder more pentagonal cross-section. They are typically harvested while unripe since they are used ascooking bananas, but they can be eaten as is if allowed to ripen.[1]
_bananas_(Cebu%2c_Philippines).jpg)
The cardava banana a triploid (ABB) hybrid of the seeded bananasMusa balbisiana andMusa acuminata. It was formerly believed to be a triploidM. balbisiana cultivar (BBB), which is now known to be incorrect. Its official designation isMusa acuminata ×balbisiana (ABB Group) 'Cardava'.[2][3]
Cardava bananas are also spelled as "cardaba" or "kardaba" in Philippine languages. It is also known aspisang chematu orpisang kepok besar inIndonesia, andchuối mật inVietnam.[3]
Cardava bananas are used in the same way as saba bananas inFilipino cuisine. However they are deemed more suitable for processing intobanana chips due to their larger fruit sizes.[1]
Cardava bananas are highly resistant to black sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fifiensis). However it is vulnerable to the "bugtok" disease which causes the fruit pulp to harden and become inedible.[1]
