Filling the gaps in gene banks: Collecting, characterizing and phenotyping wild banana relatives of Papua New Guinea

• Authors : Eyland, D.; Breton, C.; Sardos, J.; Kallow, S.; Panis, B.; Swennen, R.; Paofa, J.; Tardieu, F.; Welcker, C.; Janssens, S.B.; Carpentier, S.


• Document type : Journal article


• Year of publication : 2021


• Journal title : Crop Science


• Volume (number) : 61 (1)




• Pages : 137-149


• Peer-reviewed : Yes


• ISSN : 1435-0653


• Language(s) : English


• Abstract : Since natural habitats are disappearing fast, there is an urgent need to collect, characterize and phenotype banana crop wild relatives to identify unique genotypes with specific traits that fill the gaps in our gene banks. We report a collection mission in Papua New Guinea carried out in 2019. Seed containing bunches were collected from Musa peekelii ssp. angustigemma (3), M. schizocarpa (4), M. balbisiana (3), M. acuminata ssp. banksii (14), M. boman (3), M. ingens (2), M. maclayi ssp. maclayi (1) and M. lolodensis (1). This material together with the seeds collected during a previous mission in 2017 form the basis for the development of a wild banana seed bank. For characterization and phenotyping, we focused on the most ubiquitous indigenous species of Papua New Guinea: M. acuminata ssp. banksii, the ancestor of most edible bananas. We calculated that the median genomic dissimilarity of the M. acuminata ssp. banksii accessions was 4% and that they differed at least 5 % from accessions present in the International Transit Centre, the world's largest banana gene bank. High-throughput phenotyping revealed drought avoidance strategies with significant differences in root:shoot ratio, soil water content sensitivity and response towards vapour pressure deficit (VPD). We deliver a proof of principle that the wild diversity is not yet fully covered in the gene banks and that wild acuminata ssp. banksii populations contain individuals with unique traits, useful for drought tolerance breeding programs.


• Keywords : MUSA ACUMINATA; MUSA BALBISIANA; SEEDS; SAMPLING; GERMPLASM CONSERVATION; MUSA ACUMINATA SSP. BANKSII; GENETIC DIVERSITY; GENETIC RESOURCES; COLLECTING MISSION; WILD SPECIES; PAPUA NEW GUINEA; ITC CODE; RTB; CGSPACE


• Open access : Yes


• Document on publisher's site : View article on publisher's site


• Musalit document ID : IN200545

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