Banana is one of the most important commercial tropical fruits traded. They have been a staple of the human diet since the dawn of recorded history. These large, perennial herbs, 2–9 m in height, evolved in Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and the Indian subcontinent, developing in modern time is secondary loci of genetic diversity in Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific. Although mostly consumed locally in the PBananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple and red. Most production for local sale is of green cooking bananas and plantains, as ripe dessert bananas are easily damaged while being transported to market.