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Potassium has a positive catalytic effect on biomass gasification. The banana peel (BP) with a high content of potassium exhibited high gasification reactivity during the co-gasification process. In this study, the in-situ gasification of wet banana peel was carried out for hydrogen-rich gas and potassium-rich solid products production in a fixed-bed reactor. The migration of potassium during in-situ gasification was studied. The effects of moisture content (20–80%) and temperature (700–900 °C) on the gas production yield, potassium release, and potassium content in solid products were investigated. It was found that the cumulative gas yield, hydrogen yield, syngas yield, and H 2 concentration were increased with increasing moisture content and temperature. The cumulative gas yield, hydrogen yield, and syngas yield at 80% moisture content and 900 °C were 52.30 mmol/g, 29.38 mmol/g, and 42.75 mmol/g, respectively. During gasification, increasing the moisture content suppressed the release of K elements from biomass into the gas phase products, thus enriching the alkali metal potassium in the gasification residue. The release rate of potassium decreased linearly with increasing moisture content. Additionally, the potassium release rate initially decreased as the temperature rose from 700 °C to 800 °C, but then increased as the temperature further rose to 900 °C. The trend of potassium content in solid products was opposite to that of potassium release. When gasified at 800 °C and 80% moisture content, the solid products reached a maximum potassium content of 358.10 g/kg (43.15% K 2 O), which was the lowest potassium release calculated at 800 °C and 80% moisture content (35.73%). The potassium-rich solid products from gasification are suitable for agricultural planting and soil improvement. • In-situ gasification of banana peel was performed. • Hydrogen yield and content reached 29.38 mmol/g and 56.18%, respectively. • The increased moisture content hinders the release of potassium. • 80% moisture content and 800 °C achieved the lowest potassium release, 35.73%. • A potassium-rich solid containing 358.10 g/kg of potassium was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The banana value chain is a key driver of socio-economic development in South Africa, supporting food security, job creation, income generation, and rural development. The Onderberg District, located in the Mpumalanga Province, is one of South Africa's six main banana production areas, contributing 35 per cent of the country's total banana cultivation. As such, street vendors play a crucial role in banana retailing, yet they are systematically excluded from the formal banana value chains.The purpose of this article is to map the informal economy banana value chains in the Onderberg District, emphasising the role of street vendors and documenting their value-adding activities. To achieve this, a combination of data collection tools within a cross-sectional time frame, including surveys and interviews, was employed. A total of 119 street vendors were surveyed, and 11 key informants participated in in-depth interviews. Banana value chains were mapped using functional analysis. The value chain analysis reveals the imbalances and challenges faced by street vendors within the banana market.There is a need to enhance the inclusivity of street vendors at every stage of the banana value chain. As members of vulnerable socio-economic groups, street vendors play a crucial role, particularly in informal markets. Analysing banana value chains in these settings can significantly improve economic livelihoods, especially for women, who are often not compensated for the work they do. This study addresses a critical knowledge gap by focusing on street vendors, offering valuable insights for future research, policy development, and practical interventions in similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bananas (Musa spp.) are a critical global food crop, providing a primary source of nutrition for millions of people. Traditional methods for disease monitoring and detection are often time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to inaccuracies. This study introduces an AI-powered multiplatform georeferenced surveillance system designed to enhance the detection and management of banana wilt diseases. We developed and evaluated several deep learning foundation models, including YOLO-NAS, YOLOv8, YOLOv9, and Faster-RCNN to perform accurate disease detection on both platforms. Our results demonstrate the superior performance of YOLOv9 in detecting healthy, Fusarium Wilt and Xanthomonas Wilt diseased plants in aerial images, achieving high mAP@50, precision and recall metrics ranging from 55 to 86%. In terms of ground level images, we organized the dataset based on disease occurrence in Africa, Latin America, India, Asia and Australia. For this platform, YOLOv8 outperforms the rest and achieves mAP@50, precision and recall between 65 and 99% depending on the plant part and region. Additionally, we incorporated Explainable AI techniques, such as Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping, to enhance model transparency and trustworthiness. Human in the Loop Artificial Intelligence was also utilized to enhance the ground level model's predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For integers k,n ≥ 2, the graph obtained by joining one leaf of each of k-copies of n-star graph with a single vertex distinct from all the vertices of k-copies of n-star graph is known as Banana tree graph, written as Bk,n. In this paper, we shall investigate certain homological invariants of edge rings of Banana tree graphs Bk,n in terms of associated combinatorial data. More precisely, we shall show that the regularity and projective dimension of edge ring of Bk,n are k and nk − k, respectively, and deduce combinatorial formulae for computing all the nonzero graded Betti numbers of edge ring of B2,n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three endophytic strains, Phomopsis sp., Fusarium proliferatum, and Tinctoporellus epimiltinus, isolated from various plants in the rainforest of the Philippines, were investigated regarding their ability to repress growth of the pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum musae on banana fruits causing anthracnose disease. An in vitro plate-to-plate assay and an in vivo sealed box assay were conducted, using commercial versus natural potato dextrose medium (PDA). All tested endophytes were able to significantly reduce C. musae growth compared to the control. However, the type of medium had no significant effect on lesion size of C. musae on banana. An interaction effect between fungal strain and medium could be shown. On the commercial medium, no differences between the biocontrol ability of the fungi and control treatments could be found, while there were significant differences between the fungal strains on natural medium. Lesions on banana incubated with Phomopsis sp. on natural medium were significantly but only slightly larger than those on banana incubated with F. proliferatum. Volatiles released by these two strains and one pathogenic strain of F. graminearum were collected using polydimethylsiloxane tubes and analyzed via gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twelve volatile metabolites were detected. Benzaldehyde was the most prominent volatile emitted from the commercial and plain medium. 2-Undecanone, 2-nonanone, and phenylethyl-alcohol were detected in individual samples in both media. 1-Decanol and acoradiene were exclusive to the commercial medium, with acoradiene also being unique to F. proliferatum. Five volatileorganic compounds (VOCs)were emitted from all tested fungal species: 2-heptanone, 2-nonanone, 2-undecanone, 2-tridecanone, and phenylethyl-alcohol. Beta-acorenol was detected in F. proliferatum grown on both media. To reveal whether the medium (commercial PDA versus potato extract) affected the metabolism of the fungi, metabolic footprints were assessed via high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry MS (HPLC-QTOF-MS). A total of 388 metabolic signals were recorded. The intensities of 80–90% of these signals differed significantly between the two types of media. Metabolic footprints varied in response to different potato dextrose medium preparations. The two promising fungal strains may be used to reduce postharvest decay and losses in fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim of enhancing plants' ability to respond to pathogenic fungi, this study focuses on disease resistance genes. We commenced a series of investigations by capitalizing on the pronounced differences in resistance to Fusarium wilt between resistant and susceptible varieties. Through an in-depth exploration of the metabolic pathways that bolster this defense, we identified genes associated with resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). For our analysis, root tissues from seedlings that had been in contact with Fusarium oxysporum for four days were harvested, including both infected and uninfected samples, which served as our study specimens. The crude extract treatment led to a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, lignin content, and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity. Conversely, there was a notable decline in protein content, ergosterol levels, and pectinase activity. In the control group, it was observed that 4,474 genes in the resistant varieties were significantly up-regulated compared to the susceptible varieties. The functional annotation of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) emphasized their predominant participation in biological processes. Further analysis via the KEGG database revealed that 14 DEGs in the susceptible varieties were particularly enriched in pathways related to plant hormone signaling. Through the perspective of transcriptome data, we focused on genes associated with lignin and cell wall development for Q-PCR validation. Notably, the expression levels of Macma4_02_g07840 (COMT) and Macma4_10_g06530 (CCOAOMT) were relatively elevated. Our findings suggest that the resistance of these varieties to wilt infection can be ascribed to the accumulation of lignin metabolites, which inhibits pathogenic fungus growth by restricting the synthesis of cellular metabolites. The evidence documented in our research provides a framework for a deeper understanding of the disease resistance mechanisms in bananas, laying a solid theoretical foundation for future studies in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, as an important part of precision agricultural aviation, the plant protection unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been widely studied and applied worldwide, especially in East Asia. Banana, as a typical large broad-leaved crop, has high requirements for pests and diseases control. The mechanization degree of plant protection management in banana orchard is low. Therefore, our study focuses on the effects of different flight heights (3-5 m) and droplet sizes (50-150 μm) of plant protection UAV on the droplet deposition distribution characteristics of banana canopy. And the droplet deposition distribution in banana canopy and spraying drift of plant protection UAV and ground air-assisted sprayer were compared. The results showed that droplet size was the main factor affecting droplet deposition density, coverage, uniformity and penetration on both sides of banana canopy leaves. The droplet deposition density and coverage on the adaxial side of leaves were mostly significantly larger than that on the abaxial side. The flight height of 4 m and the droplet size of 100 μm could make the adaxial side of banana canopy leaves have higher droplet deposition density (63.77 droplets per square cm) and coverage (12.75%), and can make the droplets effectively deposit on the abaxial side of banana canopy leaves, with droplet deposition density of 17.46 droplets per square cm and coverage of 1.24%. Choosing an appropriate flight height and a droplet size could improve the droplet deposition uniformity on both sides of banana canopy leaves, but the improvement was not significant. Moreover, at a same operational parameter combination, it was difficult to achieve the best droplet deposition density, coverage, uniformity and penetration at the same time. In addition, appropriately increasing the flight height and droplet size could help to improve the droplet deposition penetration on the adaxial side of banana canopy leaves, but there were few significant improvements. Compared with the plant protection UAV, the ground air-assisted sprayer had higher droplet deposition density and coverage on the abaxial side of banana canopy leaves, but had smaller droplet deposition coverage on the adaxial side. The droplet deposition density and coverage on the abaxial side of banana canopy leaves were obviously larger than the adaxial side during the spraying of ground air-assisted sprayer. The droplet drift distance of the ground air-assisted sprayer was farther than the plant protection UAV. The test results of this study can provide practical and data support for the UAV aerial application in banana orchard, and provide a valuable reference for the implementation of air-ground cooperation spraying strategy in banana orchard, which is of great significance to promote sustainable and intelligent phytoprotection of banana orchard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional foods are currently receiving increasing popularity in diet modification. Green bananas contain far more dietary fiber (DF) and resistant starch (RS) than mature bananas. The potential for integrating these vital components into food, such as bread, has expanded. Thus, this study aimed to examine the physicochemical and rheological behavior of wheat flour dough after the addition of varying amounts of Australian, green banana flour (GBF) substitutions (5, 10, 15, 25, and 30%). Using MixoLab 2, we recorded the rheological parameters of the dough that had GBF substitutions. Additionally, the flour color ('L*', 'a*', and 'b*' value) and crumb cell structure analysis were evaluated. Although increasing the amount of GBF replacement generally improved dough quality with all banana cultivars, GBF from Cavendish and Ladyfinger showed a greater improvement than Ducasse. Improved dough mixing stability and increased viscosity, starch gelatinization, and retrogradation were all predicted to contribute to longer bread shelf life. RS content of the enriched bread increased significantly with both Ladyfinger and Ducasse (2.6%), while Ladyfinger bread had the highest DF (9.1%). With increasing GBF, L*, a*, and b* values were changed considerably with a strong linear correlation. A MATLAB analysis indicated substantial variations across samples regarding the small, medium, and total air space counts based on 10% banana flour as a standard level of addition. In conclusion, the processing properties and nutritional value of wheat flour can be enhanced by replacing specific proportions of wheat flour with green banana flour without major detrimental effects on dough processing attributes and thus highlight the possibility of utilizing GBF from different banana varieties for use in fine-tuning composite flour developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main limitations of using natural fibers reinforced unsaturated polyester (UPE) composites is poor impact damage behaviors. This work focuses to improve impact damage resistance and residual strength of needle punched banana and pineapple fibers UPE composites by hybridization and incorporating stainless steel (SS) mesh. Different configurations such as banana/UPE (PB), pineapple/UPE (PP) and banana/pineapple/UPE (H) composites were fabricated. Later, SS mesh was incorporated in PB, PP and H composites which are denoted as BS, PS and HS respectively. All specimens were impacted with incident energy of 3.5 and 15 J using Fractovis instrumental low velocity impact tester at 2 and 4 m/s respectively. Subsequently, residual strength of impacted specimens was estimated using three point bending test. Results reveal that the HS composites have least residual dent of 0.89 and 3.9 mm and maximum contact force of 1507 and 1959 N were obtained under the impacted velocity of 2 and 4 m/s respectively, which indicated better damage resistance followed by PS, PP, BS, H and PB specimens. Similarly, the least absorbed energy of 1.9 and 12 J observed in HS composites showed better impact damage tolerance. Moreover, the damage degree and performance index were computed and validated with obtained results. The least reduction of residual strength of 1.2% and 3.2% in HS composites confirmed the better impact damage resistance as compared with all other configurations. Finally, microstructural analysis was performed to correlate the impact induced damage mechanisms. Highlights: HS composites exhibited the least residual dent of 0.89 mmImpact load bearing capacity of HS composites was drastically improved by 280%Strong interfacial adhesion between the banana fiber and SS mesh was observedHS composites showed greater impact resistance under both velocitiesThere is no significant reduction of residual strength in HS composites [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana is sensitive to cold stress and often suffers from chilling injury with browning peel and failure to normal ripening. We have previously reported that banana chilling injury is accompanied by a reduction of miR528 accumulation, alleviating the degradation of its target gene MaPPO and raising ROS levels that cause peel browning. Here, we further revealed that the miR528-MaPPO cold-responsive module was regulated by miR156-targeted SPL transcription factors, and the miR156c-MaSPL4 module was also responsive to cold stress in banana. Transient overexpression of miR156c resulted in a more severe chilling phenotype by decreasing the expression of MaSPL4 and miR528. Conversely, the browning was alleviated in STTM-miR156c silencing and OE-MaSPL4 samples. Furthermore, DNA affinity purification sequencing and MaSPL4-overexpressing transcriptome jointly revealed that MaSPL4 may mediate the transcription of genes related to lipid metabolism and antioxidation, in addition to the miR528-MaPPO module, demonstrating MaSPL4 as a master regulator in the fruit cold response network. In summary, our results suggest that the miR156c-MaSPL4 module can mediate the chilling response in banana by regulating the miR528-MaPPO module and multiple other pathways, which provides evidence for the crosstalk between TFs and miRNAs that can be used for the molecular breeding of fruit cold tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and banana (Musa acuminata) muffins a gastronomic delight and nutritional perspective in Minolos, Barili, Cebu during the school year 2024-2025 as basis for techno- guide.This study used the combination of two research designs, namely experimental and descriptive methods.The respondents were categorized into trained panelists and untrained panelist. The trained panelists were the instructors ages 31-40 and most were females, while the untrained panelists were the college and high school students which most of them were females and below 20 years old. The findings revealed that the ingredient formulations of four treatments were different amounts of sweet potato and banana. The overall acceptability of the sensory revealed descriptive evaluation like extremely satisfied. The test of significance on the sensory quality found out all were reject hypothesis which were interpreted as significantly difference. The most preferred and acceptable production cost was the treatment 2 with the ratio of 10g smash sweet potato and 40g smash banana. The researcher concluded that the development of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and banana (Musa acuminata) muffins represents a promising innovation in the realm of nutritious baked goods. By capitalizing on the health advantages and inherent sweetness of sweet potatoes and bananas, the muffins meet the increasing need for healthier snack choices of the people. In general, this study offers important information on creating healthy baked goods, opening opportunities for further research and business prospects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this article, we evaluated whether wounds would affect the pathogenicity and virulence of Colletotrichum sp. isolates on Musa spp. banana cultivars. We further assessed the potential of cross-colonization with other fruit species and investigated the molecular and phylogenetic characterization of the most virulent isolates. Firstly, we collected dwarf bananas showing anthracnose symptoms from commercial markets in the city of Gurupi, Tocantins State, Brazil, and isolated Colletotrichum sp. under controlled conditions prior to identification. The virulence was assessed on wounded and unwounded banana fruits, identifying the most virulent isolate by exposure tests on fruits of the "prata", "maçã", "marmelo", and "terra" banana cultivars. We also subjected specimens of mango (Mangifera indica), papaya (Carica papaya), and apple (Malus domestica) fruits to the exposure tests. Our results indicated that pathogenicity varies with the isolate (with C2, C8, and C10 as the most virulent), fruit condition (wounded fruits are the most susceptible), and cultivars (terra, marmela, and maça are the most susceptible). All isolates were more virulent on wounded bananas, while those on unwounded ones showed lower virulence. Among the banana cultivars, "prata" fruits were the most susceptible, regardless of wounding. Additionally, Colletotrichum isolates from dwarf bananas were pathogenic to mango, papaya, and apple fruits. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the most virulent isolates belong to the species C. musae. Collectively, our findings reinforce the relevance of minimizing post-harvest wounds on banana fruits and highlight the risks of cross-infection when storing bananas alongside other fruit species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Bananas are nutritious fruits of major importance worldwide. Characterizing their diversity is essential to ensure their conservation and use. A catalog showcasing cultivated bananas genomic diversity was compiled and is to be used as a tool to support the classification of banana cultivars. This research revealed that cultivated banana groups are not all made of identical clones. Materials from recent collecting missions indicated that more banana diversity is expected to be found as the exploration of the banana gene pool continues. These discoveries will drive dynamic conservation strategies for banana genetic resources and should increase their use. Summary: Banana is an important food crop cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Because banana cultivars often have low fertility, they are typically propagated clonally, which maintains desirable traits across generations. However, different factors, such as synonymy, incomplete passport data, and environmental effects, complicate the morphological‐based assignment of banana cultivars to specific clones or cultivar groups.In this study, we applied a previously developed genomic‐based tool for fine‐scale characterization of banana ancestry, known as in silico chromosome painting, to high‐throughput genotyping data from 317 banana accessions. This dataset covers most of the globally conserved, studied, and cultivated cultivar groups and includes both genebanks and new, uncharacterized materials.By comparing curated morphological assignation to the genomic patterns resulting from in silico chromosome painting, we compiled a diversity catalog referencing curated passport data, pictures, and chromosome painting patterns of the cultivar groups.Examining the genomic patterns obtained, intra‐cultivar group variability was discovered. In some cultivar groups, mitotic recombination or deletions accumulated clonally. In addition, at least four cultivar groups encompassed cultivars from distinct sexual events co‐existing, notably Pisang Awak with five distinct patterns across two ploidy levels. Finally, additional patterns were discovered in the newest materials of the set, showing that a wider diversity of clones still exists on farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study emphasized the distribution and utilization of both wild and domesticated Musa spp. of the Nocte tribe from Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh. An extensive field survey was conducted from July to October 2023. A total of 62 households were surveyed randomly with the help of a semi-constructed questionnaire and personal interview. About 69% of the informants were from the age group of 31- 60 years. About 84% live in a nuclear family type. Maximum informants were male (74.19%) and were married (80.64%). Only 17.75% of the informants were illiterate and were farmers (46.77%). In this study, 13 wild Musa spp. were reported from Tirap district, and 4 Musa spp. were found to be cultivated by the tribe. Of these, 76.47% were wild, and the rest were domesticated. M. itinerens had a widespread distribution range and occurred in various habitats between 155 and 1,711 masl altitudes. The highest use percentage was found in the Edible use category with 33%, followed by Ceremonies and Rituals (19%), Commercial uses (12%), and both Other and Packing purposes (10% each). Among the plant parts, inflorescences had the highest usage with 30%, followed by leaf (24%), pseudo stem (21%), etc. Among all Musa spp., M. itinerens had the highest number of usages (14 uses), followed by M. nagensium (12 uses). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to compare serum CK‐MM levels in patients with and without adenomyosis and to investigate whether CK‐MM level can be a non‐invasive marker for myometrial damage due to adenomyosis. Materials and Methods: Our study was a prospective case‐control study in a tertiary center and consisted of 40 patients with a clinical/ultrasonographic diagnosis of adenomyosis and 40 patients without a clinical/ultrasonographic diagnosis of adenomyosis as the control group based on recently published morphological uterus sonographic assessment (MUSA) criteria. Individuals of similar age who signed a voluntary consent form were included in our study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings of the patients in both groups were recorded. Blood serum samples were used for the determination of serum CK‐MM levels of the participants in our study. The samples were analyzed by using the human CK‐MM enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Results: In our study, the mean serum CK‐MM level was 16.2 ± 21.7 (ng/dL) in patients with adenomyosis and 2.6 ± 2.2 (ng/dL) in patients without adenomyosis. Serum CK‐MM level was statistically significantly higher in the patient group with adenomyosis than in the control group (p < 0.001). The CK‐MM threshold value of 3.43 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 82.5% and specificity of 85%, has been found to be a valuable distinguishing level in patients with and without adenomyosis. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that serum CK‐MM can be used as a non‐invasive diagnostic method in patients with adenomyosis. As the number of studies around this subject in the literature is insufficient, larger studies are needed to use CK‐MM as a diagnostic marker in adenomyosis. Synopsis: CK‐MM could be a predictive marker in the non‐invasive diagnosis of adenomyosis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drying process of agro-industrial products such as kiwi, avocado, banana, kale, and red chili is described. Additionally, it proposes the design of a new control technique based on active disturbance rejection to regulate the temperature required for the dehydration of these products in a hybrid solar-LP gas tunnel-type dryer. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the control technique in regulating the temperature during the process. Furthermore, they demonstrate that the developed control not only ensures optimal plant operation but also mitigates the risks of rejecting batches of dried products due to non-compliance with quality specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana is the fourth most consumed crop worldwide, and its high economic value and health benefits have made it very popular. Bananas are climacteric fruits that ripen after harvesting. It has been reported that the endogenous substances in bananas change significantly during the ripening process. This study focused on levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of GABA, which reportedly fluctuates during the ripening stage. Previous studies have shown that GAD expression is associated with banana ripening; however, changes in its distribution during ripening have not been verified. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between GABA and GAD during ripening of ethylene-treated bananas. Visualization of the localization of endogenous GABA and GAD was performed using mass spectrometry imaging. To visualize GAD reaction, a glutamate-d 3 (labeled substrate) was supplied to the sample, and a GABA-d 3 (labeled product) was regarded as the localization of the enzymatic reaction. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was also used to confirm the amount of GABA and activity of the GAD. This will allow us to clarify the direct relationship between GABA and GAD and to understand the role of the GAD reaction in phytohormones. [Display omitted] • Study clarifies GABA-GAD relationship during ripening of ethylene-treated bananas. • GABA and GAD levels change during banana ripening. • Study used mass spectrometry imaging for visualizing GABA amount and GAD reaction. • Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry confirmed GABA amount and GAD reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivated bananas (Musa spp.) have a complex reproductive physiology which favours the vegetative methods of propagation, particularly sucker or tissue culture, as the commercial methods. Propagation of banana through macro-propagation technique can be employed to produce quality planting materials using less inputs. With this background, a scientifically designed investigation was carried out for optimizing composition of growing substrate for low-cost planting material production in banana. This study investigates the efficacy of macro-propagation techniques using different growing substrates and bio-fertilizers for two banana cultivars: 'Grand Naine, AAA' and 'Alpan, AAB'. The experiment was laid out in complete randomized design (CRD) with eight different combinations of growing substrate with five replications. Results showed significant differences in the emergence of primary, secondary and tertiary buds, as well as root development. The treatment comprising sawdust (50 %) and banana fiber waste (50 %) with Trichoderma consistently outperformed others in terms of days taken primary (21.45), secondary (46.91) & tertiary bud emergence (58.99), and maximum number of primary (4.21), secondary (7.16) & tertiary shoots (19.91). Same growing media also recorded minimum days taken for root emergence (17.61 days), maximum number of roots per shoot (161.10), primary roots (24.89), secondary roots (46.32), tertiary roots (89.90) & highest root length (21.88 cm). The cultivar 'Grand Naine, AAA' exhibited superior performance across most parameters compared to 'Alpan, AAB'. Overall, the treatment comprising sawdust (50 %) and banana fiber waste (50 %) with Trichoderma found to be a cost-effective and efficient method for producing high-quality banana planting materials, enhancing banana production and sustainability. [Display omitted] • A low-cost plant multiplication technique in banana is proposed. • Different growing media compositions were observed and compared. • A comparison between two varieties of banana was carried out. • Sawdust-banana fiber mix with Trichoderma improved plant propagation and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, banana slices were dried in convective (CD) and modified temperature-controlled microwave drying (MTCM) methods and at 40, 50, 60, and 70 ºC to produce banana chips. The kinetics, energy analysis, and physicochemical properties of the drying processes were investigated. Drying rates varied between 0.0039 and 0.10 g moisture g dry matter minute−1 for drying processes. Effective diffusion values were determined between 8.22 × 10–8–1.13 × 10–5 m2s−1 for drying processes. Rehydration capacities were determined between 49.10 and 65.88% for dry methods. Hardness values were determined between 38.00 and 66.30 N for drying processes. Specific moisture absorption rate values were determined to vary between 0.0015 and 0.0099 kgkWh−1. The energy efficiency values were determined to vary between 0.96 and 6.48% for processes, and the latent heat evaporating values ranged between 0.64 and 2.05 kWh. The most suitable (p < 0.05) color values for CD and MTCM were determined at 70 ºC. In this study, the MTCM 70 ºC method is recommended for drying kinetics and physical quality properties. In future studies, a more comprehensive analysis can be conducted by taking into account its bioactive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ABSTRACT: Introduction: Mandibular angle fractures (MAFs) are divisive and have led to debate in terms of treatment. The study evaluated the new angled miniplate (banana plate) with the conventional miniplate for management of MAFs. Patients and Methods: The study included 53 patients of MAFs, 26 treated with the conventional miniplate (control group) and 27 with the angled miniplate (study group). The patients were followed up and evaluated for 6 months for mouth opening, bite force, and complications. Results: A longer operating time was noted in the study group. The mouth opening and bite force were higher in the study group with fewer postoperative complications. Conclusion: The new angled miniplate mimics the angle of the mandible and offers better tridimensional stability, fewer complications, and improved stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4 (TR4) severely affects banana production worldwide. Thus, specific PCR primers have been developed to rapidly diagnose and monitor Foc TR4-related fusarium wilt outbreaks in bananas. However, evaluation of these primers revealed room for improvement in the accuracy. This study aimed to design highly specific PCR primers based on genome data for Foc TR4 downloaded from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. The specificity of the primers was assessed using Foc TR4, Foc races 1 and 2, and 15 other formae speciales strains. The utility of the primers was verified by correctly detecting Foc TR4 in 7 out of 86 isolates of Fusarium spp. obtained from banana farms in the Philippines. The primers allowed for rapid detection in experimentally diseased tissues. We concluded that this novel primer set enables the simplified diagnosis of fusarium wilt caused by Foc TR4 in bananas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since publication of a draft genome of the doubled-haploid 'Pahang' banana (Musa acuminata, DH-Pahang), a new era for banana biology research has begun. With the release of genomic data from some important Musa species and subspecies and the continuous development of molecular biology techniques, significant progress has been made. Here, we summarize the achievements and advances in the banana molecular biology and breeding over the past decade covering origin and domestication, fruit biology, stress biology, and breeding aspects, and highlight their challenges and future perspectives. This review is intended to provide researchers with the latest information on the complex genetic background and evolutionary relationship of bananas, the biology of fruit ripening, and multi-omics-based stress biology research. We especially focus on recent advances in the molecular breeding of bananas, offering an informative research direction and providing valuable technical references for future research in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a study on the fabrication of a lightweight acoustic hyperbolic paraboloid (HyPar) diaphragm using self-assembly nanoarchitectonics. The diaphragm is composed of a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) network combined with graphene oxide (GO) nanolayers. Spray coating is employed as a fabrication method, providing a simple and cost-effective approach to create large-scale curved diaphragms. The results demonstrate that the PAN/GO diaphragm exhibits acoustic performance comparable to a commercially available banana pulp diaphragm while significantly reducing weight and thickness. Notably, the graphene-based diaphragm is 15 times thinner and 8 times lighter than the commercial banana pulp diaphragm. This thinner and lighter nature of the graphene-based diaphragm offers advantages in applications where weight and size constraints are critical, such as in portable audio devices or acoustic sensors. IMPACT STATEMENT: This paper introduces a novel fabrication of a lightweight graphene-based acoustic HyPar diaphragm using self-assembly nanoarchitectonics, achieving significantly reduced thickness and weight while maintaining high acoustic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the impact of different energy storage materials on the efficiency of a pyramid solar still (PSS) for producing drinkable water in Pongalur, Tamil Nadu, India (10.9729° N, 77.3698° E). The study compares the performance of PSS using kanche marbles, natural banana fibers, and a reference solar still with only black paint at the basin. Results indicate that kanche marbles yield the highest distillate output, producing 2.94 kg daily, followed by banana fibers at 2.85 kg, and the reference still at 2.20 kg. Notably, kanche marbles and banana fibers enhance day and night distillate production by 36% and 21%, respectively, over the reference solar still. These findings highlight the significant potential of kanche marbles and natural banana fibers in improving solar still efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study characterized an endophytic fungus, DJE2023, isolated from healthy banana sucker of the cultivar (cv.) Dajiao. Its potential as a biocontrol agent against banana Fusarium wilt was assessed, aiming to provide a novel candidate strain for the biological control of the devastating disease. The fungus was isolated using standard plant tissue separation techniques and fungal culture methods, followed by identification through morphological comparisons, multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, and molecular detection targeting Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) race 1 and race 4. Furthermore, assessments of its characteristics and antagonistic effects were conducted through pathogenicity tests, biological trait investigations, and dual-culture experiments. The results confirmed isolate DJE2023 to be a member of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex but distinct from Foc race 1 or race 4, exhibiting no pathogenicity to banana plantlets of cv. Fenza No.1 or tomato seedlings cv. money maker. Only minute and brown necrotic spots were observed at the rhizomes of banana plantlets of 'Dajiao' and 'Baxijiao' upon inoculation, contrasting markedly with the extensive necrosis induced by Foc tropical race 4 strain XJZ2 at those of banana cv Baxijiao. Notably, co-inoculation with DJE2023 and XJZ2 revealed a significantly reduced disease severity compared to inoculation with XJZ2 alone. An in vitro plate confrontation assay showed no significant antagonistic effects against Foc, indicating a suppressive effect rather than direct antagonism of DJE2023. Research on the biological characteristics of DJE2023 indicated lactose as the optimal carbon source for its growth, while maltose favored sporulation. The optimal growth temperature for this strain is 28 °C, and its spores can germinate effectively within the range of 25–45 °C and pH 4–10, demonstrating a strong alkali tolerance. Collectively, our findings suggest that DJE2023 exhibits weak or non-pathogenic properties and lacks direct antagonism against Foc, yet imparts a degree of resistance against banana Fusarium wilt. The detailed information provides valuable insight into the potential role of DJE2023 in integrated banana disease control, presenting a promising candidate for biocontrol against banana Fusarium wilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt is a soil borne fungal disease that has devastated banana production in plantations around the world. Most Cavendish-type bananas are susceptible to strains of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) belonging to the Subtropical Race 4 (STR4) and Tropical Race 4 (TR4). The wild banana diploid Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis (AA, 2n = 22) carries resistance to Foc TR4. A previous study using segregating populations derived from M. acuminata ssp. malaccensis identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) (12.9 cM) on the distal part of the long arm of chromosome 3, conferring resistance to both Foc TR4 and STR4. An SNP marker, based on the gene Macma4_03_g32560 of the reference genome 'DH-Pahang' v4, detected the segregation of resistance to Foc STR4 and TR4 at this locus. Using this marker, we assessed putative TR4 resistance sources in 123 accessions from the breeding program in Brazil, which houses one of the largest germplasm collections of Musa spp. in the world. The resistance marker allele was detected in a number of accessions, including improved diploids and commercial cultivars. Sequencing further confirmed the identity of the SNP at this locus. Results from the marker screening will assist in developing strategies for pre-breeding Foc TR4-resistant bananas. This study represents the first-ever report of marker-assisted screening in a comprehensive collection of banana accessions in South America. Accessions carrying the resistance marker allele will be validated in the field to confirm Foc TR4 resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper empirically estimates the impact of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) on economic growth across European regions. The narrative of this paper is based on the convergence club hypothesis. In this context, we implement the data‐driven Phillips and Sul test to classify European regions into endogenously identified convergence clubs that tend to converge to different steady‐state equilibria. We find three substantially different convergence clubs in terms of both per capita output and spatial location: capital cities and metropolitan areas (along the so‐called "Blue Banana"), core countries, and the periphery. We observe a persistent core‐periphery pattern in terms of output per capita among European regions with different rates of convergence. The convergence club comprising capital cities and metropolitan areas converges almost four times faster than the rest of the EU. Subsequently, we estimate club‐specific growth regressions to investigate the impact of ESIF expenditures on short‐run economic growth. Our main identification strategy relies on two instrumental variables, namely the spatial lag of EFSI expenditures‐to‐GDP and the air distance to Brussels, to address a strong endogeneity problem in strongly biased relationship between ESIF expenditures‐to‐GDP and short‐run economic growth. Our results indicate a positive impact of ESIF expenditures‐to‐GDP on short‐run economic growth in the second (core) and third (periphery) convergence clubs, with the impact being twice as large in the latter compared to the former. These results remain robust when adjusting the growth regressions to use ESIF expenditures‐to‐population instead of ESIF expenditures‐to‐GDP, although the pronounced difference in effect magnitude among convergence clubs diminishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphate fertilization improves banana yields, but due to the physiological effects of phosphorus on plants, it can also be used to improve the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits, which can contribute to increasing the processing of green bananas and reducing losses in the production chain. Herein, the productivity of bunches and fruit, the biometric analysis of the fruit, dry matter content, and the chemical composition of immature fruit were evaluated when the cultivar BRS SCS Belluna (AAA) was grown under different levels of phosphate fertilization for two harvest cycles. The results showed that phosphate fertilizer levels interfered with bunch yield and fruit mass in both cycles, leading to yield gains of 44.3% (1st cycle) and 84.0% (2nd cycle) in bunches and 51.8% (1st cycle) and 81.9% (2nd cycle) in fruits. Fertilization promoted gains of up to 33.5% in fruit mass and enhanced the resistant starch content in the pulp, leading to an increase of 15.1%. The phosphorus, potassium, and calcium contents in green fruits increased with fertilizer levels in the first cycle, improving nutritional quality. These results have useful applications because they indicate that adequate management of phosphate fertilization can increase the potential of the cultivar for industrial processing of green fruits and the nutritional quality of the derived products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a banana ripening chamber system for Romania. The system comprises two main parts: the refrigerating unit, with a cooling capacity of 47.5 kW, and a fresh air supply system for ethylene exhaust during the ripening process (1000 m3/h). The proposed solution replaces the classical one-stage vapor compression with R134a. The new solution presented in this study has a proven fruit ripening solution that includes the 3Es; it is eco-friendly (low GWP refrigerant R1234ze(E)), economical, and energy efficient (AHU with heat recovery). The advantage of the new system results from an increasing coefficient of performance, with 7.34% owing to decreasing the power consumption of the compressors. Regarding heat recovery, the annual energy consumption for ventilation is lower, using (annual average) 41% less energy than without heat recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines a single figure from Christian history, the reformed sinner known as Musa of Rome (d.c. 593). Tracing the evolution of Musa from Gregory the Great's Dialogues to early modern pastoral texts, this study explores processes of condemnation, recalibration, and negotiation regarding dance in premodern Christianity. The first section analyzes medieval portrayals of Musa as expressions of "choreophobia," a term borrowed from dance studies scholar Anthony Shay that denotes cultural anxiety surrounding dance. Here, I argue that choreophobic renditions of Musa sedimented medieval misogyny and conceptualized sin. The second section turns to late medieval sources that assess dance differently vis-à-vis dance studies scholar André Lepecki's concept of "choreopolice" or "choreopolicing". For this study, choreopolicing highlights how ecclesiastical authorities refashioned Musa as a moralizing vehicle to articulate and implement clerical agendas. The third and final section explores Musa's inspiring aura as a sacred muse. In this vein, her kinesthetic afterlives helped Christian laity apprehend Marian piety, visualize the resurrected body, and communicate hope for redemption. Methodologically, this study embraces the frameworks of religious studies, medieval studies, and dance studies. However fictional and embellished retellings of the Musa story were, this article—the first in-depth scholarly study dedicated to Musa of Rome—demonstrates how the medieval dancing body manifested a site of political contestation, ecclesiastical control, and individual redemption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the earliest tensions in Jewish history arose between the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah. These regions, known as Samaria and Judea, became areas where two distinct and conflicting traditions emerged. These traditions, each claiming to be the true guardians of the law of Musa and the faithful implementers of God’s commands, have exhibited distinct characteristics in various aspects, including sacred texts, belief principles, the nature of the prophet and the Messiah, and the practice of rituals. One of the most significant differences between these two traditions lies in their understanding of holy places. Jews assert that al-Quds was designated by God, and that the construction of the Temple there was carried out in accordance with divine command. In contrast, the Samaritans contend that the Law of Musa does not reference the sanctity of al-Quds; instead, they argue that all narratives concerning the Jewish ancestors, beginning with Ibrahim, contain clear references to Mount Gerizim. They vehemently oppose the traditions that emerged in the Judean region, as well as the dominant interpretations of al-Quds and the Temple. This perspective of the Samaritans is also evident in their negative portrayals of significant prophets and kings, such as Samuel, Dawud, and Suleyman, who played crucial roles in the development of the Jewish tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt of banana is a soil-borne vascular disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. The rapid and accurate detection of this disease is of great significance to controlling its spread. The research objective was to explore rapid banana Fusarium wilt latency and onset detection methods and establish a disease severity grading model. Visible/near-infrared spectroscopy analysis combined with machine learning methods were used for the rapid in vivo detection of banana Fusarium wilt. A portable visible/near-infrared spectrum acquisition system was constructed to collect the spectra data of banana Fusarium wilt leaves representing five different disease grades, totaling 106 leaf samples which were randomly divided into a training set with 80 samples and a test set with 26 samples. Different data preprocessing methods were utilized, and Fisher discriminant analysis (FDA), an extreme learning machine (ELM), and a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) were used to establish the classification models of the disease grades. The classification accuracies of the FDA, ELM, and 1D-CNN models reached 0.891, 0.989, and 0.904, respectively. The results showed that the proposed visible/near infrared spectroscopy detection method could realize the detection of the incubation period of banana Fusarium wilt and the classification of the disease severity and could be a favorable tool for the field diagnosis of banana Fusarium wilt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On commercial banana (Musa spp.) plantations, soils are often supplemented with phosphorus (P) fertiliser to optimise production. Such additions may influence the diversity and function of soil microbial communities, which play important roles in P cycling and affect plant fitness. Here, we characterised the effects of P addition on the diversity and function of banana-associated microbial communities. P addition was associated with significant increases in soil P and the activities of alpha-glucosidase, chitinase, arylsulphatase, and acid phosphatase, but not beta-glucosidase or xylosidase. P addition also expedited bunch emergence and harvest, but did not influence fruit yield, plant height, or foliar P. There were no significant effects of P addition on the alpha or beta diversity of bacterial, fungal, and nematode communities, including members of the core microbiome. The only exceptions to this was an increase in the relative abundance of a Fusarium population in roots. These results indicate that phosphorus application to banana soils may stimulate microbial enzyme activities with minor or negligible effects on microbial diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have recently identified S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) as a novel banana allergen with a potentially decisive role in the development of cross-reactivity between plant-derived food and respiratory allergens. The recalcitrant nature of banana pulp and intrinsically low abundance of SAHH limit its production from natural sources. Our objective was to optimize production and biochemically characterize recombinant banana SAHH (rSAHH) with implications for the food safety industry, food allergy diagnosis and treatment, and basic research in molecular allergology. rSAHH with C-terminal 6His tag was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells, and purified to homogeneity by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC), yielding 10 mg of rSAHH/L of cell culture under optimized conditions. It is functional as a monomer with an approximate molecular weight of 55 kDa and pI of 5.83. Structural integrity, IgE reactivity, and biological activity of rSAHH were confirmed by Western blot and standard colorimetric SAHH assay with Ellman's reagent, respectively. As a mesophilic enzyme with wide pH stability and high 8-month storage stability, rSAHH obtained in this study is the promising candidate for further diagnostic and therapeutic applications. To the author's best knowledge, rSAHH is the only recombinantly produced plant-derived SAHH thus far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of pesticides causes significant environmental problems, which drives the search for natural and non-toxic alternatives. In this study, a glycolipid biosurfactant (BS), produced by the yeast Starmerella bombicola ATCC 22214, was utilized as an active ingredient in natural agricultural defensive blends. The mixtures were tested for their fungicidal potential against phytopathogenic fungi isolated from fruits such as papaya, orange, and banana, demonstrating strong inhibition of fungal growth. The genera Penicillium, Colletotrichum, and Aspergillus were the pathogens present in the deterioration of the fruits used in the experiment. The biosurfactant was produced in a fermenter, yielding 10 g/L and reducing the surface tension to 31.56 mN/m, with a critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 366 mg/L. Blends of BS with oleic acid (T1) and lemongrass oil (T2) were found to be effective in controlling fungi. Additionally, the phytotoxicity of these formulations was assessed using Cucumis anguria (gherkin) seeds, where the blend of BS with castor oil (T4) showed the best performance, promoting seed germination. These results indicate the potential of such mixtures as natural alternatives for fungal control in plants and for application in sustainable agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop booms are a significant driver of change for both rural landscapes and smallholder livelihoods. Cavendish bananas have boomed in northern Laos and replaced maize, the previous boom crop, through land leasing contracts between farmers and Chinese companies. This study of two villages in Oudomxay Province explores rural households' participation in this banana boom and the conjunctures that shape variegated livelihood pathways and outcomes. Household participation in the banana boom depended on their assets (land and labour), livelihood context and social pressure. Household income in both villages generally improved, but differentially. The better‐off, and those with a wider array of livelihood options, used income from bananas to move to primarily non‐agricultural livelihoods, while many poorer households became dependent on wage labour in banana production, at the expense of their health. Women reported to be content to escape agricultural labour through land leasing; but many who contributed labour to banana production felt trapped in ongoing heavy labour, with attendant adverse impacts. These outcomes reflect how the conjunctures of different household, community and external elements, and crop boom‐bust cycles, lead to differentiated ('variegated') household livelihood trajectories and outcomes for households and for men and women, and suggest points of policy intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Agrobiodiversity is critical to agroecosystem health, and a key source of agrobiodiversity is farmers’ varieties. Reintegration of these resources into agroecosystems requires improving their knowledge base, including the creation of crop models. One underutilized farmers’ variety is Loka Pere, a local banana (Musa spp.) found in Adolang and Adolang Dhua villages, Majene Regency, West Sulawesi. The purpose of this study was to create a simple growth model simulating Loka Pere’s growth response to soil macronutrient concentrations across three traditional growth environments. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for Ntot, Corg, C:N, pH, Pav, Kexc, Naexc, Caexc, Mgexc, and CEC. Plants were measured for pseudostem circumference at the plant base and 1 meter height, plant height, and hands per bunch at three growth phases. Principal component analysis was used to define a productivity index. Multiple linear regression models and non-linear generalized additive models were fit utilizing soil parameters as input variables and growth parameters individually as response variables. Growth models varied in goodness of fit (R² = 0.11 to 0.69). The most important soil variables for Loka Pere growth were Ntot, Caexc, and CEC, and the most important soil variables for yield were pH, CEC, and Pav. The growth responses of Loka Pere to the availability of certain nutrients differed from responses found in studies on other varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is one of the sectors that has an important impact, taking into account the problem of sufficient food supply on a global level. The process of predicting the yield of crops is among the most challenging undertakings in the agricultural industry. Agriculture is the main source of income for most developing nations. The purpose of the study is to investigate the significant role that agriculture plays in boosting India's economic growth. Additionally, the research considers the challenges posed by a growing population and a changing environment in terms of agricultural production and food security. The research focuses on analysing the complex characteristics of the agricultural industry, with a particular emphasis on the nutritional importance of tropical fruits, notably bananas and arecanut. These fruits are well-known for their vital nutrients and their role in ensuring world food security. This study acknowledges the importance of sustainable agriculture practices and incorporates sophisticated machine learning algorithms as dynamic tools to forecast crop yields and enhance decision-making processes throughout the crop development cycle. The main aim of this study is to create strong machine learning models and statistical techniques that can accurately predict crop yield by combining a variety of environmental parameters, then assess which models outperform each other. Assist yield projections may provide governments and policymakers with valuable information to make well-informed choices about food security, import–export policies, and resource allocation. It facilitates national- and regional-level food supply planning. The validation method utilises important metrics like R square (R2), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE). This present research adds to the continuing discussion on using creative methods to promote sustainable agricultural growth and ensure food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banana (Musa x paradisiaca L.) is a lignocellulosic natural fiber that can be processed to produce eco-friendly and biodegradable hybrid fabrics when combined with other fibers. Natural-dyed banana fiber can be utilized in the production of sustainable materials for wearable products, household linens, technical textiles, and apparel. In this study, banana-silk union fabrics, pre-treated with bio-mordant at concentrations of 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%, were dyed separately using cochineal insect extract (Dactylopius coccus Costa). To assess the dyeability of the banana-silk union fabric, Anatolian black pine cones (Pinus nigra subsp. pallassiana) were utilized as a bio-mordant, with varying quantities. The CIELab values of the dyeings were measured and compared. Additionally, the chemical composition of the cochineal extract, pinecone mordant, raw fabric, and selected dyed fabrics was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The washing, light, and rubbing fastness properties of the dyed banana-silk union fabrics were also evaluated and compared. This study developed a method for weaving union fabric by blending two distinct natural yarns, namely banana and silk, to reduce dependence on a single fiber and promote the utilization of agricultural waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]