Farmers' Knowledge of Wild Musa in India

India is a treasure chest of biodiversity that hosts a large variety of plants and animals. It has been one of the major centres of origin and distribution for both wild and cultivated bananas (Musa spp.), especially for balbisiana-derived hybrids. The present case study provides an insight into the indigenous technical knowledge regarding multiple uses of wild and cultivated bananas for the benefit and advantage of the local population in India. The study provides a picture of distribution of wild and cultivated Musa species of interest in the country; it sets out the vital role of local knowledge in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem function in the different agro-ecological zones of India where Musa species occur. The study also describes in detail the involvement of the tribal and farming communities in the conservation, maintenance, perpetuation and spread of banana genetic diversity.