Quick Identification of Banana Varieties by Minimal Qualitative Descriptor Traits

Morphological traits are routinely used to characterize the banana varieties but are unable to precisely discriminate the closely resembling ones. Current study explores the five common banana varieties using 41 qualitative traits and discriminating traits are shortlisted based on uniformity within variety (zero Shannon index), differences between varieties (varying mode scores across varieties and significant binomial distribution of mode class from non-mode class). Five traits at vegetative stage (leaf habit, leaf blotch color, color of midrib leaf dorsal surface, petiole canal area, and pigment under pseudostem) are useful as unique descriptors for quick discrimination of five banana varieties at 62.5–100% accuracy levels.