Goldfinger banana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Goldfinger banana (FHIA-01) is a banana variety developed in Honduras. The variety, developed at the Honduran Foundation for Agricultural Research (FHIA) in Lima by a team of scientists let by Philip Rowe and Franklin Rosales, has been bred to be pest-resistant (specifically against the black sigatoka) and crop-yielding.
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[edit] History
The roots of the Goldfinger's development can be traced back to an initiative to develop new banana breeds by the United Fruit Company begun as early as 1959. This was later taken up by the Honduran Foundation for Agricultural Research, supported by organizations such as the Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The initiative drew on the gene pool of more than 800 banana cultivars from Southeast Asia, from which bananas originated. Throughout the development of the banana, the developers took the view that conventional hybridization is more important than alternative means, such as genetic engineering.
The first big breakthrough came in 1977, with the development of a hybrid which provided a good banana bunch size, and was resistant to both burrowing nematodes and Race 4 of Panama disease. The banana's pest-resistance, further improved later, has environmental and economic aspects. Antifungal chemicals cost more than $750 per hectare a year, and are very damaging to the environment.
The Goldfinger was unveiled in Canada in 1994 by the IDRC.
After Philip Rowe's death in 2002, the initiative was taken over by Juan Fernando Aguilar.
[edit] Growing
The Goldfinger takes longer than other banana varieties to mature, but is more resistant to cold, wind and pestilence. It grows to 14'.
[edit] Consumption
Though the Goldfinger is edible while still green (in the form of chips, for instance), it is most appealing to Western markets when ripe. In this form, the Goldfinger's stated aim is to replace the much more popular Cavendish banana, which is essentially the sole dessert banana sold in North American and European markets. Since its launch, the Goldfinger has caught on in certain markets - notably Australia - but has yet to do so in North America and Europe.
