'Pitogo' at a glance
Ploidy level


Genome group






ITC code


'Pitogo' is an ABB cultivar from the Philippines with almost round fruit.

Local names

'Platano Higo' ("Fig plantain"), 'Nilanzon' ("like a langsat fruit"), 'Enetlog' ("like an egg") (Philippines)[1], 'Pisang Kates' (Indonesia), 'Ugly banana' (USA)[2]

History of cultivation and current distribution

'Pitogo' originated in the Philippines, where it is well known and grown commercially. It was introduced to Hawaii quite recently and stays a rare curiosity on specialty fruit farms[2].

Morphological characteristics

The small to medium-sized bunch is compact and hangs at a slight angle from the pseudostem, with individual fruits densely packed in the hand[1]. The seedless fruits are almost round or fig-like in shape, with blunt tip[1] and a waxy bloom on the skin[2]. The thick peel is lemon yellow in color when ripe, and the cream-colored pulp is firm and sticky[1].

The rounded, blunt-tipped fruits may resemble those of Popoulu cultivars, but Pitogo fruits are smaller and less evenly arranged on the bunch. The two groups are unrelated.

Agronomic traits, yield and fruit characteristics


Days from planting to flowering: 291[1]
Days from flowering to harvest: 105[1]
Days from planting to harvest: 396[1]
Days from first to second harvest: 94[1]
Plant height (cm): 300-330{[1], 310-430[2]
Functional leaves at shooting:  
Total leaves at shooting:  
Mean bunch weight (kg): 10-11[1]
Number of hands: 9-10[1], 5-6[2]
Total number of fruits: 170-190[1]
Finger length (cm): 7.5[1], 7.6[2]
Finger girth (cm): 4.1[1], 3.8[2]
Finger weight (g): 61[1]
Yield (t/ha):  

Host reaction to diseases and pests

Bacterial diseases

Moko bacteria wilt / Bugtok (Ralstonia solanacearum)

Rated as susceptible in artifical inoculation tests in Honduras[3]


Pitogo is consumed either fresh or cooked (dual purpose)[1]. The fruit is sweet and non-aromatic; it is good as dessert, but excellent when fried[1].


1. Valmayor, R.V., Espino, R.R.C. and Pascua, O.C. 2002. p. 172-173. In: The Wild and Cultivated Bananas of the Philippines. PARFFI, Los Banos, Philippines.
2. Kepler, A.K. and Rust, F.G. 2011. The world of bananas in Hawai'i: then and now. Traditional pacific and global varieties, cultures, ornamentals, health and recipes. Pali-O-Waipi'o press, Hawaii. 586p.
3. Stover, R.H. 1972. Banana, Plantain and Abaca Diseases. Commonwealth Mycological Institute, Kew, UK. 316 p. cited by Jones, D.R. (ed.). 2000. Diseases of banana, Abacá and Enset. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxon (GBR). 544p.

See also on this website

Local names for 'Pitogo' in the cultivar checklist
Musapedia pages on cultivars: