A new banana variety with light-coloured skin, named Clarinha, has been registered in Brazil after emerging from a natural mutation. This new variety retains its marketable appearance longer due to its low chlorophyll content.

Clarinha was discovered by chance in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, and the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) has officially entered it into the National Registry of Plant Varieties (RNC). The new variety is a natural mutation of a banana from the Cavendish subgroup. Its main feature is its lighter, shinier skin, which has been confirmed to contain approximately 43 per cent less chlorophyll.

Tests have shown that the Clarinha variety yields as much fruit as the traditional Cavendish bananas. Additionally, it offers an aesthetic advantage, especially in winter when conventional varieties tend to darken more quickly in stores.

Ivanor Boing, head of the regional office of the Ministry of Agriculture in Santa Catarina, noted that the registration of this new variety confirms the innovative potential of local agriculture. With this registration, the new banana variety is suitable for commercial use, thereby expanding opportunities for producers and enhancing the competitiveness of banana cultivation in Santa Catarina. In total, six banana varieties have been identified in the state, with the municipalities of Luiz Alves and Corupa standing out.