Breeding bananas for disease resistance, fruit quality and yield

• Authors : Rowe, P.R.; Richardson, D.L.


• Document type : Book


• Year of publication : 1975


• Publisher(s) : SIATSA


• Place of publication : La Lima, Honduras


• Collection : SIATSA Bulletin


• Pages : 41


• Language(s) : English


• Abstract : No other commercial export type of banana exists at present as an alternative to the 'Cavendish' clones. More genetically diverse clones are essential for protection against epidemic disease. In addition, genetic resistance to the primary diseases, leaf spot and burrowing nematode, of the 'Cavendish' clones would reduce the expense of chemical control. These needs led to the initiation of a banana-breeding program in 1959. A prerequisite to this program was the accumulation of a large gene pool. Expeditions were made to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands during 1959-61 to collect Musa accessions. Approximately 850 accessions were acquired and grown in Honduras for evaluation and use in the breeding program. The triploid dwarf mutants of 'Gros Michel' ('Cocos', 'Highgate' and 'Lowgate') produce a few seeds when pollinated and are the fixed female parent in all pollinations designed to produce commercial hybrids. Breeding advanced diploid male pollinator lines must make all genetic improvements.


• Keywords : DISEASE RESISTANCE; BREEDING; INDUCED MUTATION; HYBRIDS; PLANT COLLECTIONS; CHROMOSOME NUMBER; SAFE VEGETAL MATERIALS; HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES; HONDURAS


• Open access : No


• Musalit document ID : IN030241

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