Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Banana (Musa species) cultivars are classified based on their ploidy levels and genomic constitutions derived from the wild diploid progenitors Musa acuminata (A genome) and Musa balbisiana (B genome).
Because commercial banana cultivars are highly triploid and parthenocarpic, they are sterile and cannot be improved easily through sexual hybridization.
Consequently, clonal selection of superior somatic mutants occurring naturally in orchards is the primary method of crop improvement.
This breeding approach maintains the genetic backbone of the original variety while selecting for enhanced yield, disease resistance, or fruit quality.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The cultivar “Udhayam” is a high-yielding clonal selection developed and released by the National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India.
It was selected from the popular commercial cultivar “Karpuravalli”, which possesses the ABB genomic constitution.
Karpuravalli is known for its tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought, soil salinity, and marginal soils, as well as its resistance to the devastating soil-borne disease Fusarium wilt (Panama disease).
Its fruits are sweet, starch-rich, and have a long shelf-life.
The clonal selection “Udhayam” exhibits superior agronomic traits compared to the parent Karpuravalli, including a larger bunch weight, higher number of hands, and increased number of fingers per bunch.
Other options represent distinct banana groups:
Bombay Green is a popular AAA genomic group dessert cultivar.
Pidi Monthan is a culinary ABB banana cultivar widely grown for cooking purposes.
High Gate is a dwarf mutant of the famous triploid dessert cultivar Gros Michel (AAA).
Therefore, “Udhayam” is genetically and agronomically linked directly to Karpuravalli.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, the banana cultivar “Udhayam” is a clonal selection of Karpuravalli.