Yielding and virus resistant abaca hybrids for the rehabilitation of abaca plantations infected with bunchy top virus

The Philippines remains as the world's top producer of banana. However, the future of the domestic abaca industry is challenged by complex of virus diseases-bunchy top, mosaic, and bract mosaic of which the first is the most severe. The Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the Philippines Los Baños developed BC2 lines which are virus-resistant and with desirable fiber quality (IPB Abaca 2, IPB Abaca 4, and IPB Abaca 7). The virus resistant parent, Pacol (Musa balbisiana), is a wild relative of banana. Those hybrids are being multiplied and propagated in vitro through tissue culture in four UPLB laboratories as well as in six other laboratories in collaborating state colleges/universities. Alongside the tissue propagation efforts, agronomic and economic performances of these hybrids are being assessed through multilocation trials in farmers' fields with full and partial exposure to sunlight since abaca are traditionally planted under shade. Nine trial set-ups were established and are maintained by collaborating SUCs [State Universities and Colleges]. In each location, a separate replicated trial was established using a common set of entries in a common field experimental design. Tinawagang Pula and Inosa were used as checks. Currently, two out of these nine locations are in the harvesting stage and agronomic data are being gathered. Also, scheduled disease assessment and rating is being conducted in the field. In addition to ocular evaluation, laboratory testing of randomly selected hybrids is also being done using gene specific markers. Thus far, abaca hybrids from all location are free from bunchytop disease while traditional varieties are already infected. The suckering ability of the hybrids is also comparable to that of the check varieties. Initial observations suggest that the overall performance of hybrids planted under full sunlight is superior compared to Tinawagang Pula and Inosa.