Dimapur: Researchers at Nagaland University have conducted a study on the genetic diversity of Musa sikkimensis, a wild banana species native to the Eastern Himalayas and northeast India. The study highlights its importance for climate resilience, food security, and sustainable agricultural development.Musa sikkimensis, commonly known as the “Darjeeling banana” or “Sikkim banana”, is a wild-seeded species that serves as a vital genetic reservoir for traits such as disease resistance, stress tolerance, and climate adaptability — critical for future banana improvement programmes, according to a university release.Though not widely cultivated for its fruit, the species plays a crucial role in strengthening crop resilience and ensuring sustainable production. The research team found that local banana germplasm demonstrates strong adaptive potential across diverse environments, reinforcing its importance for conservation and breeding initiatives.Nagaland, part of the India-Burma biodiversity hotspot, hosts a rich diversity of indigenous banana genotypes. However, increasing human activity, environmental pressures, and deforestation have placed many wild species at risk of decline and possible extinction, making conservation research urgent.The study, titled “Exploring the Genetic Diversity of Musa sikkimensis Land Races in Nagaland, India”, underscores the need to conserve endangered banana germplasm. Findings were published in ‘Flora and Fauna’, a peer-reviewed journal on plant and animal biology, biodiversity, and environmental conservation. The paper was co-authored by Nagaland University scholars KR Singh, S Walling, and A Sarkar.The study builds on postgraduate and doctoral research projects supervised by A Sarkar, associate professor in the department of horticulture, focusing on banana biodiversity, germplasm mapping, wild species characterisation, and genetic resource evaluation in Nagaland.
