Plantain plant `FHIA-21`

Abstract

As compared with the reference False Horn plantain variety, this new and distinct variety of plantain (genus Musa, interspecific hybrid) plant has the following unique combination of desirable features: 1. Leaves are resistant to the black Sigatoka leaf spot disease (Mycosphaerella fijiensis) which is a very serious disease on False Horn. 2. Fruits are straighter and the peels have a lighter green color than those of False Horn. 3. Fruit sizes (length and diameter) are similar to those of False Horn when the recommended practice of pruning the bunch to leave only 5 hands for development is followed. 4. Total fingers per bunch and bunch weights at maturity are about double (even when the bunch is pruned to leave 5 hands) those of False Horn. 5. Fried green chips have a very good flavor and are slightly softer than those of False Horn. 6. Ripe fruits have an excellent flavor and texture when microwaved (a higher fruit moisture content and a softer ripe texture make this new variety more suitable than False Horn for this method of cooking). 7. Peels of green fruit turn an attractive uniform yellow color when left to ripen under ambient conditions without ethylene treatment.

I claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of plantain plant, substantially as illustrated and described, which has a high level of resistance to the black Sigatoka leaf spot disease; the fruit is further characterized by having a very good flavor when fried as green chips, an excellent flavor and texture when microwaved ripe, and to having size and shape characteristics closely resembling those of the reference False Horn variety when the bunches are pruned after emergence to leave only the first 5 hands for development.