Abstract:
Kampar is a district in Riau Province that has high banana diversity. The aim of this
research was to investigate the diversity of bananas based on morphological characters . This research had been conducted from March to July 2012 in five study sites i.e. Kampar Timur, Kampar, Rumbio Jaya, Tambang and Tapung Sub-district, using survey method and direct observation. A total of 43 banana trees were examined and scored using their morphological characters. The dendogram was constructed from similarity matrix using NTSyst which based on 89 morphological characters. The similarity coeficient was ranged from 0.15 to 0.84 that the highest relationship was found between Manis Bawang and Bantan cultivar, while the lowest relationship was found between Kowok and Lilin cultivar. A total of 33 banana
cultivars were determined which based on the morphological character observation. The
dendrogram showed two main groups, group I consisted of two cultivars, i.e. Tanduk and
lilin, while group II consisted of 41 individuals from 31 cultivars. The potential bananas were divided into two groups, consumable bananas as fresh fruit (Buai Pendek, Udang, Godang, Barangan, Si Ajo, Tenalun, Timah) and cooked bananas (Tanduk, Bungo, Pawen, Nangko, Sirandah, Batu and Batu Abu).
