Overview
- The peer-reviewed findings on Musa sikkimensis were published in the journal Flora and Fauna by K. R. Singh, S. Walling, and Animesh Sarkar.
- Researchers documented several previously unclassified genotypes through collaboration with banana experts across Northeast and southern India.
- The Sikkim banana is reported to harbor traits for disease resistance, stress tolerance, and adaptability valuable to future crop improvement.
- The Banana Biodiversity Corridor serves as a living field gene bank integrating in situ and ex situ conservation while supporting training and breeding research.
- The team warns of conservation risks from limited access to remote forests and a farmer shift to hybrids and tissue-culture varieties, noting significant ethnobotanical uses and scope for value-added products.