• Aman kr.Jha
• Dr.Surendra kumar Prasad

Banana is one of the most important fruit crops globally and in Bihar, where it ranks second only to mango in terms of cultivation, and production. Among its various types, indigenous cooking bananas play significant roles in local diets, cultural practices and livelihoods.The present study aimed to document and characterise the indigenous cooking banana varieties of the Mithila region,Bihar, India.Field surveys were conducted across major banana growing districts like Darbhanga, Madhubani,Samastipur and information on local names,availability , visible morphological traits were collected from farmers, traders and by visual assessment.The study recorded three prominent indigenous cooking varieties namely, Kothia,Bhos and Battisa , exhibiting considerable variations in pseudostem height,colour,thickness, bunch size,bunch characteristics and fruit apex. These findings highlight the rich agrobiodiversity of cooking bananas in Mithila region of Bihar and emphasize the need for their conservation and sustainable utilization.The documentation provides baseline data for further research and is very essential in conserving plant varieties.Further, documentation and characterisation of these varieties provide a foundation for future breeding programmes, germplasm conservation and promotion of traditional cultivars in cultivation.

Cooking banana, Mithila, documentation, indigenous varieties,germplasm conservation.

"DOCUMENTATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF INDIGENOUS COOKING BANANA(MUSA SPP.) VARIETIES IN THE MITHILA REGION OF BIHAR, INDIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no.e329-e334, January-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601448.pdf

"DOCUMENTATION AND CHARACTERISATION OF INDIGENOUS COOKING BANANA(MUSA SPP.) VARIETIES IN THE MITHILA REGION OF BIHAR, INDIA", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no. ppe329-e334, January-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601448.pdf