Overcoming the fertility crisis in bananas (Musa spp.)

Amah, Delphine; Turner, D. W.; Gibbs, Daniel; Waniale, Allan; Gram, Gil; Swennen, Rony; Consultant, Australia

doi:10.19103/as.2020.0070.13

Cited by 17 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…On an inflorescence, several female hands open over different days and are pollinated on a daily basis [20]. Flower opening in banana happens at about 5:00 p.m. and continues into the night [21,22], although hand pollinations are made after day break. After a series of pollinations at different times in the day on 'Gros Michel,' the highest seed set was obtained between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Pollen Germination Media on Stigmas during Pollination Increases Seed Set in East African Highland Cooking Bananas (Musa spp.)

et al. 2021

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Seed set in East African Highland Cooking bananas (EAHBs) is extremely low and therefore hampers breeding. Pollen–pistil interaction is a key contributing factor. We assessed the effect of pollen germination media (PGM) on seed set in EAHBs. Five EAHB cultivars were pollinated with pollen from the wild banana ‘Calcutta 4’. Glucose-based PGM sprayed on freshly emerged stigmas significantly increased seed set per 100 fruits per bunch. Increases were 73.5% in ‘Enzirabahima’, 39.9% in ‘Mshale’, and 302.4% in ‘Nshonowa’. However, PGM did not increase seed set in the female sterile ‘Mlelembo’ and ‘Nakitembe’. As larger bunches were more fertile, good field management practices are also recommended to get more seed to improve breeding efficiency.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Pollen Germination Media on Stigmas during Pollination Increases Seed Set in East African Highland Cooking Bananas (Musa spp.)

et al. 2021

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“…Unlike cultivated and most wild banana species (including other M. acuminata species), seed bearing M. acuminata subsp. banksii are characterized by self-compatible hermaphroditic flowers, particularly in the upper hands on the inflorescence(32,38), these likely self-pollinate prior to flower bract opening(48).Similar floral morphology, and therefore probably self-pollination, is also observed in M. acuminata var. chinensis (49), M. boman (30), M. jackeyi (interestingly closely related to M. maclayi ) (32), M. ingens (30), M. rubinea (50), M. schizocarpa (30), M. yunnanensis (49) and M. zainful(51).…”

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confidence: 73%

Maximizing genetic representation in seed collections from populations of self and cross-pollinated banana wild relatives

Kallow

Panis

Dang

et al. 2021

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Background: Conservation of plant genetic resources, including the wild relatives of crops, plays an important and well recognised role in addressing some of the key challenges faced by humanity and the planet including ending hunger and biodiversity loss. However, the genetic diversity and representativeness of ex situ collections, especially that contained in seed collections, is often unknown. This limits meaningful assessments against conservation targets, impairs targeting of future collecting and limits their use. We assessed genetic representation of seed collections compared to source populations for three wild relatives of bananas and plantains. Focal species and sampling regions were Musa acuminata subsp. banksii (Papua New Guinea), M. balbisiana (Viet Nam) and M. maclayi s.l. (Bougainville, Papua New Guinea). We sequenced 445 samples using suites of 16-20 existing and newly developed taxon-specific polymorphic microsatellite markers. Samples of each species were from five populations in a region; 15 leaf samples and 16 seed samples from one infructescence ('bunch') for each population. Results: Allelic richness of seeds compared to populations was 51%, 81% and 93% (M. acuminata, M. balbisiana and M. maclayi respectively). Seed samples represented all common alleles in populations but omitted some rarer alleles. The number of collections required to achieve the 70% target of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation was species dependent, relating to mating systems. Musa acuminata populations had low heterozygosity and diversity, indicating self-fertilization; many bunches were needed (>15) to represent regional alleles to 70%; over 90% of the alleles from a bunch are included in only two seeds. Musa maclayi was characteristically cross-fertilizing; only three bunches were needed to represent regional alleles; within a bunch, 16 seeds represent alleles. Musa balbisiana, considered cross-fertilized, had low genetic diversity; seeds of four bunches are needed to represent regional alleles; only two seeds represent alleles in a bunch. Conclusions: We demonstrate empirical measurement of representation of genetic material in seeds collections in ex situ conservation towards conservation targets. Species mating systems profoundly affected genetic representation in seed collections and therefore should be a primary consideration to maximize genetic representation. Results are applicable to sampling strategies for other wild species.

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“…Seed banking crop wild relatives efficiently protects genetic material and makes it available for phenotyping and breeding (Dempewolf et al2017), it is included in UN Sustainable Development Target 2.5 (UN General Assembly 2015). Optimized germination is a vital component of seed bank management and breeding -without it, viability is difficult to monitor and access to plants for research and breeding is constrained (FAO 2014;Batte et al 2019;Amah et al 2020).…”

Section: Laboratory Conditions (Lc)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Using semi-natural and simulated habitats for seed germination ecology

Kallow

Quaghebeur

Panis

et al. 2021

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1. Ecologically meaningful seed germination experiments are constrained by access to seeds and relevant environments for testing at the same time. This is particularly the case when research is carried out far from the native area of the studied species. 2. Here, we demonstrate an alternative - the use of glass houses in botanic gardens as simulated-natural habitats to extend the ecological interpretation of germination studies. Our focal taxa were banana crop wild relatives (Musa acuminata subsp. burmannica, M. acuminata subsp. siamea and M. balbisiana), native to tropical and subtropical Southeast Asia. Tests were carried out in Belgium, where we performed germination tests in relation to exposure to sun and foliage-shading, seed burial-depth in different heated glass house compartments, as well as seed survival and dormancy release in the soil. We anchored the interpretation of these studies by also conducting an experiment in a semi-natural habitat in the species native range (M. balbisiana - Los Baños, the Philippines), where we tested germination responses to exposure to the sun and shade. Using temperature data loggers, we determined temperature dynamics suitable for germination in both these settings. 3. In semi-natural and simulated-natural habitats, seeds germinated in response to exposure to direct solar radiation. Seed burial-depth had a significant but marginal effect by comparison, even when seeds were buried to 7cm in the soil. Temperatures at sun-exposed compared to shaded environments differed by only a few degrees Celsius. Maximum temperature of the period prior to germination was the most significant contributor to germination responses and germination increased linearly above a threshold of 23°C to the maximum temperature in the soil (in simulated natural habitats) of 35°C. 4. Glass houses can provide useful environments to aid interpretation of seed germination responses to environmental niches.

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Overcoming the fertility crisis in bananas (Musa spp.)

Cited by 17 publications

References 68 publications

Application of Pollen Germination Media on Stigmas during Pollination Increases Seed Set in East African Highland Cooking Bananas (Musa spp.)

Application of Pollen Germination Media on Stigmas during Pollination Increases Seed Set in East African Highland Cooking Bananas (Musa spp.)

Maximizing genetic representation in seed collections from populations of self and cross-pollinated banana wild relatives

Using semi-natural and simulated habitats for seed germination ecology

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