Rasthali
A regional table type (Silk group) grown for premium local markets.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Banana
- Type
- Planting material
- Season
- All seasons
- Maturity period
- 12–15 months
- Expected yield
- Medium
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Disease resistance
- Variable
- Release
- A traditional Silk-subgroup (AAB) dessert cultivar, also known regionally as Nanjangud Rasbale — not an ICAR-bred release; ICAR-NRCB Tiruchirapalli has researched Fusarium-wilt-resistant mutant lines derived from it, but the base cultivar remains a traditional selection, propagated from suckers or tissue culture, not true seed
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
About this variety
Rasthali is an AAB-genome dessert banana of the Silk subgroup, known regionally as Silk, Mutheli, Malbhog, Martaman, Karkandu vazhai, Amruthpani and Rasabale, and in Karnataka as Nanjangud Rasbale. A TNAU banana variety page places core production in Tamil Nadu's Erode and Tiruchirapalli districts plus Kerala and Karnataka; other variety listings additionally name Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. TNAU records a 14–15 month crop duration, a bunch of 15–20 kg with 60–80 fruits, thin, easily-peeled ivory-yellow skin, and sweet, aromatic flesh. The fruit sells well for fresh eating, but the crop is hard and costly to grow: it is reported severely susceptible to Fusarium wilt, needs bunch covers against sun-cracking, and tends to form hard lumps in the pulp. TNAU separately lists susceptibility to panama wilt, fusarium wilt, hard-lump formation, and fruit dropping off the bunch. A peer-reviewed geographical study of Fusarium wilt across India adds hard numbers. Rasthali showed the widest incidence range of any cultivar surveyed, from 0.4% up to 45% in the field. It was infected by both the older Foc race 1 and the newer STR4 strain across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha and Assam. It also carried the highest number of distinct Foc vegetative compatibility groups (10) of any cultivar in the study — evidence of broad, not narrow, vulnerability to the pathogen.
Should you pick this variety?
Pick Rasthali only if you have a premium fresh-fruit buyer and are ready for a demanding crop. Its thin, easily peeled ivory-yellow skin and sweet, aromatic pulp earn a loyal market across Tamil Nadu's Erode and Tiruchirapalli belts, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, with a 15–20 kg bunch of 60–80 fruits over 12–15 months. The costs are real: severe Fusarium wilt susceptibility, with field incidence from 0.4% to 45% and the widest range of Foc strains of any cultivar surveyed, plus bunch covers against sun-cracking and a tendency to hard lumps in the pulp. On wilt-sick land choose Nendran or Red Banana; for volume with less fuss, Grand Naine or Robusta.
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeFebruary–April on wet land; January–February or November–December on garden land (TNAU)
- Spacing2.1 x 2.1 m, about 2,260 plants per hectare (TNAU)
- Sowing methodRasthali is named by TNAU as a wilt-prone variety, so the sucker treatment is not optional: pare away the infected parts of the corm and dip it for five minutes in 0.1% Emisan, 1 g per litre of water, before planting 1.5–2.0 kg sword suckers
- IrrigationWater at planting and on the fourth day, then weekly on garden land or every 10–15 days on wet land. Avoid standing water: this variety is the one that goes down to wilt
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Distinctive thin, easily-peeled skin, mealy ivory-white pulp and strong aroma give it a loyal, premium fresh-fruit market across South India
- Well documented in national germplasm collections — ICAR-NRCB's field gene bank alone holds hundreds of accessions — so breeding programmes are actively working on wilt-resistant improved lines
- Grown across South and East India — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar — so locally suited planting material is within reach
Things to consider
- TNAU and other variety descriptions report severe Fusarium (Panama) wilt susceptibility, and a peer-reviewed geographical study found field incidence as high as 45% (range 0.4–45%) and the widest genetic diversity of Foc strains of any cultivar surveyed. The "Variable" rating hides a real wilt risk.
- Crop duration and bunch-size figures vary modestly between sources. TNAU gives 14–15 months and a 15–20 kg / 60–80-fruit bunch, while another general profile gives a 15 kg bunch with 80–90 fruits. Both are broadly in line with the 12–15 months shown above.
- Rasthali is grown mainly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. TNAU adds Karnataka, and other listings add Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
- Needs bunch covers to prevent sun-cracking and is prone to hard lumps forming in the pulp. These are real added production costs beyond the disease risk.
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
- Karnataka
- Andhra Pradesh
- Bihar
Can you keep your own planting material?
This crop is raised from suckers taken off the mother plant, so you can multiply it yourself. Pick sturdy suckers of even size from healthy, well-yielding clumps, and never from one that looked diseased or stunted — the new plant inherits whatever the mother had. For a clean start, take planting material from a registered nursery or a government farm.
How it compares with other varieties
Every Banana variety with a page on this site, side by side. The row for this page is highlighted.
| Variety | Best for | Maturity | Yield | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarf Cavendish (Basrai) | Windy fields and a nearby market, on the most familiar banana of all | 12–14 months | High | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh |
| Grand Naine (G9) | Uniform export and retail-grade bunches, away from TR4 districts | 11–12 months, planting to harvest | 483–503 q/ha in Bihar KVK demonstrations (420–431 on local practice) | Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh |
| Nendran | Kerala's chips and cooking trade, and wilt-sick soil | 9–12 months, planting to harvest, by ecotype | No institute per-hectare figure found; bunches 12–15 kg | Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
| Poovan | A sour-sweet dessert banana for the Tamil Nadu fresh market, on clean land | 11–14 months (TNAU) | 400–500 q/ha a year (TNAU) | Tamil Nadu, Kerala |
| Rasthalithis page | A premium Silk-type dessert banana, for a farmer who can watch the crop closely | 12–15 months | Medium | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar |
| Red Banana | The highest-priced banana, for a grower who can wait 16–18 months | 16–18 months | Medium | Tamil Nadu |
| Robusta | Heavy Cavendish bunches for the south Indian fresh market | 12–13 months | High | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra |
Tools for this crop
The numbers you need next: how much seed to buy, whether the lot germinates, what the fertilizer bill looks like and what Banana is selling for.
- Seed Rate CalculatorHow much seed your Banana plot needs, corrected for the germination of the lot you bought.
- Seed Variety FinderFilter every Banana variety on this site by state, season, duration and soil.
- Fertilizer CalculatorTurn the NPK recommendation for Banana into bags of urea, DAP and MOP for your field size.
- Crop Profit CalculatorPut your seed, labour and input costs against the yield you expect from this variety.
- Mandi Price CheckerToday's Banana rate in your nearest mandi, before you fix a price with a trader.
Subsidy and government support
Schemes that help with the cost of Banana seed or planting material. Rules and the application route are on each scheme page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rasthali resistant to Fusarium wilt?
No. It is one of the dessert bananas that suffers most from Fusarium (panama) wilt. A peer-reviewed geographical study found field incidence up to 45% and infection by both the older race 1 and the newer TR4-related STR4 strain, with the widest range of pathogen diversity of any cultivar surveyed.
What other names does Rasthali go by?
Silk, Mutheli, Malbhog, Martaman, Karkandu vazhai, Amruthpani and Rasabale are all regional names for the same AAB Silk-subgroup cultivar; in Karnataka it is often called Nanjangud Rasbale.
Why does Rasthali need a bunch cover?
To protect the fruit from sun-cracking during development — one of several extra production costs (alongside hard-lump formation in the pulp and wilt management) that make Rasthali more expensive to grow than a standard Cavendish type.
Which states grow Rasthali commercially?
Mainly Tamil Nadu (Erode and Tiruchirapalli districts) and Kerala, with real cultivation also reported in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.
Are wilt-resistant versions of Rasthali being developed?
Yes — ICAR-NRCB in Tiruchirapalli has used induced mutagenesis on Rasthali specifically to screen for Fusarium-wilt resistance and has identified resistant mutant lines in research trials, though these are not yet the standard commercial planting material.
Why does Rasthali cost more to grow?
Three things add up: bunch covers to stop sun-cracking, the hard lumps that can form in the pulp and spoil a lot, and heavy wilt pressure that may force you to abandon a block. The premium price has to cover all three before the crop beats a straightforward Cavendish.
How bad is Fusarium wilt in Rasthali?
It is the weakest point. A peer-reviewed survey recorded field incidence from 0.4% up to 45% across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha and Assam, infection by both race 1 and the newer STR4 strain, and ten distinct Foc compatibility groups on this one cultivar — broad vulnerability, not a single local problem.
Are wilt-resistant Rasthali plants available to buy?
Not yet as standard planting material. ICAR-NRCB in Tiruchirapalli has screened induced-mutant Rasthali lines and identified resistant ones in research trials, so ask them or your KVK what is available before you plant a big block on wilt-prone land.
What spacing does Rasthali need?
2.1 x 2.1 m, about 2,260 plants per hectare (TNAU). Keep to it. A crowded Rasthali plantation stays damp at the base, and damp is exactly what the wilt and the leaf diseases want in a crop that is already the fussy one.
How long does Rasthali hold the field?
12–15 months, longer than Grand Naine at 11–12 months, and with a bunch cover and extra care through all of it. Price it on the whole 12–15 months of land, labour and risk before you decide it earns more than a Cavendish.
Sourced from: Banana Variety Rasthali (Silk AAB) — Global Agriculture, Season & Varieties — Banana Expert System, TNAU Agritech Portal, Geographical Distribution, Host Range and Genetic Diversity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Causing Fusarium Wilt of Banana in India — PMC, Banana production guide, TNAU Agritech Portal: planting distance, season, the Emisan corm dip for wilt-susceptible varieties such as Rasthali, and irrigation. editorial policy.