THE GENETIC POTENCY OF PLANTAIN AGUNG SEMERU VARIETY FROM LUMAJANG REGENCY EAST JAVA INDONESIA

Lumajang regency is one of the banana production centre in East Java having highdiversity of banana germ plasm. There are 33 cultivars of banana germ plasm in the regency, consist of eaten ripe and plantain. One of uniqe plantain used as the symbol of Lumajang regency is plantain Agung Semeru variety, the local superior variety of this regency. This variety can grow well at 450 – 650 m above sea level. The uniqueness of banana Agung Semeru variety can be seen by the number of sucker per cluster (only 1 – 2 suckers per cluster), the size of the finger (33 – 36 cm long and 19 cm around) and the number of hand per bunch (only 1 – 2 hand per bunch). Other characteristics of the variety are the thickness of fruit skin, the long period of fruit storage (3 – 4 weeks after harvesting) and the sweetness of fruit flesh. Even though the skin changes from yellow to black, the flesh still can be consumed, because it doesn’t become soft. This variety also resistant to the Sigatoka disease compared to other plantain cultivars.


Introduction
Banana especially plantain is already well known as tropical fruit and highly potencial to be developed in similar agroecological zone in East Java. Besides that, its taste, its nutrient content, vitamin and calory is also very useful to keep the body healthy.
Based on the growth requirements, plantain grow well from low land till the altitude of 1000 m above sea level, pH 4,5 -7,5. Plantain has shallow roots, spread out under the soil and needs soil containing much organic matters.
Plantain var. Agung Semeru is one of new released variety. For this time being, it is become a trade mark of Lumajang, and widely consumed as processed product, such as chips, sale and powder. The main producer area in Lumajang is at Senduro district.

Genetic Resources
Plantain var. Agung Semeru found at Senduro district Lumajang, its originally growing in this location, spread out at 12 villages. Besides that, there are 33 cultivars of banana germ plasm in those regency, consist of eaten ripe (Emas, Ambon, Susu variety, ect) and plantain (Kepok, Byar, and Embug variety ect.). Based on the information provided by Extension Office for Agriculture, this varieties was already exist since long time ago.
Propagation of this varieties is ussually done vegetatively by using sucker or bulb. Based on the genetic characteristics (morphology, growth characters and production) of two kinds of plantain grown at two districts, namely Senduro and Pasru Jambe and supported by isozym analysis, the two of them belong to one varieties, var. Agung Semeru.

Field test and Observation Material and Method
Field test and observation was done in 2003 -2006, at two districts namely Senduro and Pasru Jambe, using an interview method and observation. Interview using a questionaire actively involved farmers, extensionists and researchers.
Observation was done on 10 -24 monthold-plantain, by identifying and characterizing in the field and laboratory.
Pests and diseases observation was done using a survey method on the existing plantation at the two locations.

Result and Discussion
The average of plantation grown at Senduro and Pasru Jambe was presented in Table 1, while farmer's profile in Table 2 and average pests and diseases attack in Table 3. very resistent towards N. octosema, E thrax, and fusarium 4. Yield: flowering 8 -10 months after planting with 10 -20 kg/ bunch of production 5. Having 1 -2 suckers/ cluster, so that it will be efficiently managed 6. Having relatively thick and hard fruit skin, so that self life will be longer and its' taste become sweeter

Weaknesses
Weaknesses caused by genetic factor, plant regeneration after three-years of growing, as younger sucker grown on old-roots, so it should be removed and replanting in other location.
Limited number of suckers resulted limited production of suckers to be grown (multiplied), so it needs rapid propagation through bit production and tissue culture

Consumers' preference
This plantain is widely consumed for household or home industry, for its'colour of fruit flesh (reddish yellow), compact structure and fresh and sour taste that make it difference with other varieties. Based on the size of finger (+19 cm of diameter, 33 -36 cm of fruit length) and life storage (+ 3 -4 weeks after harvest), it is really prefered as processed food. Even its'fruitskin become black, it is still consumeable, its'fruit flesh is not soft. In mature condition, its' chip colour is yellow so consumer prefered to this

Suitable Region
The altitude of Senduro district, where this plantain grown was 475 -600 m above sea level, dominated by oxisol soil type, with rainy season September -May, while day season is June till August (Oldeman), with less than three months of dry months, it showed moist condition (Saraswati et al, 2001). Average yearly rainfall (for 10 years) 2825.8 mm with 138 days of rainy.
To meet the demand of plantain var. Agung Semeru, that tended to be increased more and more, extensification should anticipated to provide raw material for home industry by considering the growth requirements as stated in Table 4, similar agroecological condition.