Awards

Jennifer Harikrishna of the University of Malaya in Malaysia will collect genetic resources from wild banana relatives in different regions across Malaysia, with a focus on Musa acuminata subspecies, and characterize their genotypes and associated phenotypes, including abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. Samples will be collected through field expeditions and in a citizen science initiative with sample and data collection by the public guided by a mobile app. Seeds will be tested for desiccation tolerance, and germinated plants will be assessed for drought and salinity tolerance and resistance to the fungal pathogen Fusarium Tropical Race 4 and to the nematode parasite Meloidogyne incognita. Based on these studies, selected species will be characterized by molecular marker genotyping and whole-genome sequencing. Banana breeders in Uganda, Tanzania, and Cameroon will be engaged early in the project for sharing knowledge and strategic approaches.

Roanne Gardoce of the University of the Philippines Los Baños in the Philippines will characterize the wild banana relative Mus acuminata ssp. errans to explore its untapped potential in banana breeding. This Mus subspecies, locally known as Agutay, is endemic to the Philippines and Indonesia. They will compare its growth in an upland and lowland location in the Philippines, with a focus on genotype-by-environment interactions. They will sequence the genomes of the Philippine and Indonesian Agutay, compare them to wild banana reference genomes, and develop chromosome-scale genome assemblies. They will perform genetic studies of resistance to the key disease Banana Bunchy Top Disease, using crosses between Philippine M. balbisiana (which is resistant) and M. acuminata (which is sensitive). They will also analyze the pollen biology of Philippine Agutay and M. balbisiana to guide efficient breeding and characterize their seeds to guide their long-term storage for conservation.

Sasivimon Swangpol of Mahidol University in Thailand will collect genetic resources from two banana progenitor species (Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana) in Thailand and Laos, characterize their genotypes and associated phenotypes, and test and store seeds. The project includes collaboration with Kasetsart University and the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, both in Thailand, and the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute in Laos. They will analyze the population genetics of plants from both countries, and they will collect and store seeds. Seeds from Thailand will be germinated and banana plants analyzed for agronomic traits and resistance to two key diseases: Banana Bunchy Top Disease and Banana Blood Disease. Genetically diverse and fertile wild Musa species offer untapped potential for introducing new traits, especially disease resistance, into breeding programs for this staple crop plant.

Birte Komolong of the Papua New Guinea National Agricultural Research Institute will establish a seed collection in Papa New Guinea for locally-collected wild Musa bananas as genetic resources for banana breeding programs, focusing on M. acuminata ssp. banksii and M. schizocarpa. They will collect samples of these species along with soil samples and record agronomic traits of the plants, including observations of pests and diseases. They will establish a seed laboratory, processing seeds for long-term storage from the two species from new and existing collections. The project includes collaboration with the Meise Botanic Garden in Belgium. They will genetically characterize leaf and seed samples and potentially use the genetic techniques to screen for the agents of key diseases: banana wilt associated phytoplasma, Banana Bunchy Top Virus, and the fungal agent of Black Sigatoka.

Vu Dang Toan of the Vietnam Rural Development Science Association in Vietnam will collect genetic resources from wild banana relatives in different regions across Vietnam and screen for resistance to two key diseases: those caused by Banana Bunchy Top Virus and by the fungal pathogen Fusarium Tropical Race 4. The project includes collaboration with the Meise Botanic Garden in Belgium and Vietnam National University. They will screen for disease resistance in seedlings derived from new and existing collections of wild Musa, including from M. balbisiana, M. acuminata, M. itinerans, M. paracoccinea, M. lutea, and M. haekkinenii. They will also perform crossbreeding in preparation for genetic mapping of disease-resistance and ultimately the combination of multiple desirable traits in new hybrid banana varieties.