Nagaland University finds rich genetic diversity in wild bananas of NE

Researchers from Nagaland University have documented significant genetic diversity in Musa sikkimensis (Sikkim/Darjeeling banana), a wild-seeded species native to the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India, highlighting its value for climate resilience, disease resistance, and future banana breeding programmes.
The study, titled Exploring the Genetic Diversity of Musa sikkimensis Land Races in Nagaland, was published in the peer-reviewed journal Flora and Fauna.
Co-authored by research scholars KR Singh and Dr. S Walling, along with Dr. Animesh Sarkar (associate professor, department of horticulture, Nagaland University), it emphasises the urgent need to conserve endangered wild banana germplasm in one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots.
Nagaland, part of the Indo-Burma hotspot, harbours numerous indigenous banana genotypes.
However, deforestation, environmental pressures, and a shift toward hybrid/tissue-culture varieties threaten many traditional and wild types with decline or extinction.
Nagaland University vice-chancellor Prof. Jagadish K. Patnaik described the research as a “significant scientific breakthrough” and a reflection of the university’s responsibility toward safeguarding Northeast India’s wild flora.
“In the changing climate scenario, this work will strengthen genetic resilience, adaptability, and nutritional security for future crop improvement,” he said.
The study highlights the significant ethnobotanical value of wild bananas among indigenous communities in Nagaland.
Nagaland University has established a banana biodiversity corridor at the department of horticulture—a living field gene bank integrating in-situ and ex-situ conservation.
It supports genetic/molecular research, climate-resilient breeding, student training, and national germplasm security.
Dr. Animesh Sarkar noted challenges in remote forest exploration (terrain, accessibility, low farmer awareness) and warned that increasing reliance on hybrids accelerates loss of traditional genotypes.
Funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, the project involves collaboration with experts including Dr. K. K. Sabu (Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Kerala); Dr. S. Debnath (Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal); Dr. Moaakum (Kohima Science College) and Prof. S. Banik (Nagaland University). The study calls for coordinated conservation to protect fragmented diversity, strengthen local value chains, and support sustainable agriculture in the region.