Development and performance of balck sigatoka-resistant tetraploid hybrids of plantain (Musa spp., AAB group)

Abstract

A strategy to control the black sigatoka disease (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet) of plantain (Musa ssp ., AAB group) in Africa, targeting the incorporation of durable host plant resistance, was initiated at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) . The commonly accepted intractability of plantain to genetic improvement has been challenged by the identification of 37 different, seed-fertile plantain cultivars and by the production of 250 hybrids in four years of breeding work . Twenty tetraploid hybrids have been selected for their increased black sigatoka resistance, high yields, large parthenocarpic fruits and improved ratooning. `Calcutta 4' (Musa acuminata spp . burmannicoides) was the diploid male parent of 17 of the selected hybrids, which indicates that the inferior bunch characteristics of this wild banana were generally not transmitted to its tetraploid progenies . Conversely, the 4x progeny of plantain readily expressed black sigatoka resistance when crossed with `Calcutta 4' . Progenies of the triploid plantain cvs . 'Obino l'Ewai' and Bobby Tannap' differed in their black sigatoka breeding values, the former producing larger numbers of promising hybrids . Tetraploids obtained from crosses of plantain cultivars with the homozygous `Calcutta 4' displayed variation in black sigatoka reaction, qualitative morphological traits and growth and yield parameters, suggesting the occurrence of segregation and recombination during the modified megasporogenesis leading to the formation of 2n eggs in the triploid female plantain parents . The variation in black sigatoka reaction among the tetraploid progenies of plantain suggests that resistance could be regulated by recessive, additive genes .

Molecular and cytological characterization of the global Musa germplasm collection provides insights into the treasure of banana diversity

“…Migration of humans in the early days of agriculture have brought bananas to the secondary centers of diversity such as Africa (where AAB Plantains and AAA East African Highland bananas arose) or Pacific Islands (with today's AAB Maoli/Popo'ulu and Iholena cultivars; De Langhe et al 2009). Despite enormous difficulties, Musa breeders have managed to produce successful hybrids (Vuylsteke et al 1993;Rowe 1998;Ortiz and Swennen 2014). One of the key steps in the Musa breeding process is the development of agronomically-improved, disease-resistant diploid parental lines (Tenkouano et al 2003), which can be used for producing synthetic tetraploid hybrids (Rowe and Rosales 1996).…”

Improving plantain (Musa spp. AAB) yields on smallholder farms in West and Central Africa

“…In lowland West and Central Africa, the important nematodes that attack banana and plantain are Pratylenchus coffeae, Radopholus similis, Helicotylenchus multicinctus, Meloidogyne spp., Rotylenchulus reniformis and P. goodeyi (Adiko 1988;Speijer et al 2001;Kamira et al 2013;Osei et al 2013). Mobambo et al 1993;12 Vuylsteke et al 1993;13 Obiefuna 1984b;14 Coyne et al 2005 andRotimi 2003: 15 Tenkouano et al 1998;16 Nwauzoma et al 2002;17 Selatsa et al 2009*;18 Baiyeri and Tenkouano 2008;19 Lemchi et al 2005*;20 De Cauwer et al 1995;21 Banful et al 2000;22 Baiyeri et al 2004 andBaiyeri et al 1999;23 Phillip et al 2009* andSalako et al 2007 for soil; 24 Plantain-derived improved cultivar 8 11,12,15,16,18,19,20,25 Fig Two experiments quantified yield loss to plant-parasitic nematodes under controlled on-station conditions (Table 2). Dochez et al (2009) compared growth of plantains inoculated with R. similis, H. multicinctus, H. dihystera, and Meloidygyne spp.…”

“…Key: Fa: False horn; Fr: French. Sources: Mobambo et al 1993;Vuylsteke et al 1993;De Cauwer et al 1995;Tenkouano et al 1998;Nwauzoma et al 2002;Lemchi et al 2005;Baiyeri and Tenkouano 2008;Aba et al 2011. As only one experiment reported the percentage of plants contributing to yield, bunch masses are used 100 % higher yields than False horn due to larger bunch mass, an increasing proportion of French plantain in the field would increase overall yield and thus improve food security where production is for auto-consumption.…”

Effect of the parthenocarpy gene P1 and ploidy on fruit and bunch traits of plantain-banana hybrids

“…Materials and methods F1 euploid hybrids were derived from interspecific interploidy crosses (Vuylsteke et a!., 1993d). The female parents were the locally adapted AAB 'French' plantain cultivars 'Obino l'Ewai' (OL) from Nigeria and 'Bobby Tannap' (BT) from Cameroon (Swennen, 1990).…”

“…The diploid male parent was the wild diploid banana 'Calcutta 4' (C4) from Burma (Myammar). The crosses between OL x C4 and BT x C4 have produced the two 'largest' segregating populations in plantain improvement (Ortiz & Vuylsteke, 1994;Vuylsteke et a!., 1993d).…”