Developing resistant banana and plantain cultivars through conventional breeding techniques
2011
Menon, R. | Cherian, A. | Suma, A. | Maicykutty | Mathew, P. | Nāyar, Es. | Aipe, K.C.
The conventional breeding programme at the Banana Research Station, Kannara, India has produced two dessert banana hybrids, ‘BRS-1’, [‘Agniswar’ (AAB) × ‘Pisang Lilin’ (AA)] and ‘BRS-2’, [‘Vannan’ (AAB) × ‘Pisang Lilin’], which have been developed and released for cultivation in Kerala. These hybrids are very resistant to Sigatoka leaf spot, a trait inherited from the male parent. Current breeding strategies are focused on the improvement of ‘Nendran’ (AAB), the commercial French plantain cultivar of the state, for higher productivity, dwarf stature and resistance to Sigatoka leaf spot, weevil borers and nematodes utilising wild/natural/bred diploids. Though limited by low levels of female fertility, development of plantain hybrids resistant to black leaf streak based on triploid/diploid crosses has been reported. Female-fertile clones of ‘Nendran’ identified in the genebank were pollinated with the wild Musa acuminate ssp. burmannicoides ‘Calcutta-4’, highly resistant to Sigatoka leaf spot. Low seed set and germination reduced the recovery of hybrids for evaluation. One hybrid progeny resulting from the cross [‘Nendran’ clone ‘Chengalikodan’ × ‘Calcutta 4’] with close resemblance to the female parent recorded a plant height of 360 cm, pseudostem girth of 62 cm and 12 leaves at shooting. It registered a bunch weight of 13 kg with 8 hands and 90 fruits. Unlike its susceptible female parent, the hybrid displayed very high resistance to Sigatoka leaf spot, imparted by the male parent. Being male- and female-fertile, the hybrid is being back-crossed with ‘Nendran’ and crossed with selected diploids. Embryo culture is being standardised to improve the recovery of hybrid progeny.
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