Virupakshi Hill Banana (Malai vazhaipazham) gets its name from the town of Virupakshi, located near Palani. The famous Panchamritham of Palani Temple is made with these bananas. Hill Banana had been the predominant crop in Lower Palani Hills, Kodaikanal Range.
Virupakshi Hill Banana has also been severely affected by Bunchy top, a devastating viral disease during 1980 and was on the verge of extinction. Government authorities, Tamilnadu Agricultural University, self-help groups and farmers have worked very hard to contain this virus using indigenous methodology, tissue culture techniques as well as the latest farming technology.
The Virupakshi Hill Banana variety belongs to pome group genome AAB. There is a typical curvature in the fruit. It possesses a pleasant aroma and delightful taste. It is cultivated under rainfed conditions in perennial eco-system. Its cultivation is distributed in eastern parts of Western ghats and parts of Eastern ghats viz., Lower Palani hills, Sirumalai, Kallayar hills, Kotti hills etc.
Biological classification of Hill Banana is as given below.
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliphyta
Class : Liliopsida
Order : Zingiberales
Family : Musaceae
Genus : Musa
Species : Sapidisiaca
Hill banana Virupakshi plant is tall, stout, strong and growing upto a height of 300 cm. and the pseudostems have brownish black blotches. Fruits have thick peel and ripened fruits are yellow in colour with five angles.
The pedicel attachment is very strong and the skin can easily slip away from the pulp even at fully ripened condition. The pulp is having less moisture content, even under over-ripe conditions. The pulp will not get spoiled when the fruit skin turns black.
Virupakshi bananas have the characteristic flavour only when they are cultivated in higher elevation. The shelf life fruit is upto 10 days under ambient temperature. Fruits are available throughout the year. The sugar content is upto 210 brix with a sugar: acid ratio of 15:1.
Virupakshi bananas Grown under laterite soil rich in organic matter and the fruits are having medicinal value and liked by all age persons. The fruits are useful for clearing constipation and easy bowel movement. The fruits are having potassium content which is essential for effective functioning of nervous system in human being.
GI Tag Registration Date : 12 May 2008
GI Tag Number : 124
Certificate Number : 103
Geographical Area : Tamil Nadu
Special Cover Release Date : 13 October 2021
Cancellation : Dindigul 624 614
Type : GI Tag Cover
Cover Identification Number : TN/26/2021
Each cover is numbered and total 2000 covers are issued.
Enlarged View of Illustration
Enlarged View of Cancellation
Back Side Scan
No comments:
Post a Comment