Mumbai

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre announced on Wednesday that it has developed Kaveri Vaaman, the country’s first mutant banana variety. The plant is shorter in height and better suited to withstand strong coastal winds.

The variety, officially known as Trombay Banana Mutant 9 or TBM 9, has been approved for release under the name Kaveri Vaaman by the Government of India. According to BARC, this marks the organisation’s first fruit crop developed and released through its mutation breeding programme, bringing its total number of improved crop varieties to seventy two.

Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, said the release of TBM 9 represents a significant advancement in the use of ionising radiation to improve horticultural crops.

BARC Director Vivek Bhasin emphasised the importance of gamma ray induced mutagenesis in creating improved crop varieties that support sustainable agriculture. He noted that TBM 9 will be particularly beneficial for farmers growing the Grande Naine banana, an economically important cultivar.

The new variety was developed in collaboration with the ICAR National Research Centre for Banana in Tiruchirappalli. Scientists used gamma radiation to induce mutations in the widely cultivated Grande Naine plant. After years of screening and field evaluation, TBM 9 was selected for its superior agronomic traits.

One of the major advantages of Kaveri Vaaman is its shorter stature, which greatly reduces the risk of lodging, a common issue for tall banana plants in windy coastal regions. With the new dwarf variety, farmers no longer need to use bamboo or wooden supports, lowering production costs.

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The variety also matures about six weeks earlier than its parent plant while retaining the flavour and quality associated with Grande Naine. Suitable for high density planting and terrace gardening, Kaveri Vaaman is expected to support both commercial growers and household cultivators.