Using Mutation Breeding to Improve the Eating Characteristics of the Fusarium Wilt-Resistant Banana Variety, ‘Goldfinger’ (AAAB)
2024
Katelyn Robertson | Sharon Hamill | Carole Wright | Massimo Bianco | Ashley Balsom | Simoné Moller | Ishita Pramanik | Philippa Lyons | Jeff Daniells
Banana production in Australia is under threat from Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4), and the option of growing a disease-resistant variety is sought after by many farmers. Goldfinger is one such alternative: however, it was previously rejected by Australian consumers. In Phase I of this investigation, mutagenesis was employed as a practical method to generate large numbers of novel variants. In Phase II, 631 variants were established in a field trial where agronomic and postharvest assessments, including taste-testing, identified 20 improved selections. Phase III involved a replicated field evaluation of the selections with favourable mutations, where further taste-testing revealed five selections with the most promising eating characteristics. In Phase IV, the five selections underwent large-scale consumer and sensory evaluations where four of them performed as well as the industry standard controls &lsquo:Williams&rsquo: Cavendish and Lady Finger. The sensory analysis revealed differences in the fruit flavour profile and textural attributes, and these features will play a key role in bringing a new banana variety to market and for promotion to consumers. Screening of the variants&rsquo: resistance to yellow Sigatoka was integrated into the project, but further work is needed to ensure these four selections have retained their TR4 resistance.
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