INFOMUSAMUSA the International Magazine on Banana and Plantain

INFOINFOMUSAMUSA The International Magazine on Banana and Plantain

Vol. 10 N° 2 December 2001 IN THIS ISSUE Integrated management of Sigatoka diseases in cv. Africa Organic fertilization vs inorganic fertilization in “Cachaco” plantain in Colombia Influence of leaf removal on shoot and root growth in banana Effect of hail and wind on the fruits of Dominico hartón and FHIA-21 Polyphenol oxidase activity and gene expression in the fruit of Goldfinger In vitro multiplication of FHIA-18 plantain in the presence of paclobutrazol Preliminary results of a virulence test of the populations of Foc for different banana cultivars Evolution of the nematofauna of plantain in Côte d’Ivoire Parasite nematodes of banana in western Burkina Faso Genetic and genomic diversity in banana based on molecular tools Banana in images Classification and characterization of Musa exotica, M. alinsanaya and M. acuminata ssp. errans Thesis MusaNews MusaForum INIBAP News Books etc. Announcements PROMUSA News

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INFOMUSA is published with the support of the Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) The mission of the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain is to sustainably increase the productivity of banana and plantain grown on smallholdings for domestic consumption and for local and export markets. The Programme has four specific objectives: •To organize and coordinate a global research effort on banana and plantain, aimed at the development, evaluation and dissemination of improved cultivars and at the con- INFOMUSA servation and use of Musa diversity The International Magazine on Banana and Plantain •To promote and strengthen collaboration and partnerships in banana-related Vol. 10 N° 2 December 2001 IN THIS ISSUE Integrated management of research activities at the national, regional and global levels Sigatoka diseases in cv. Africa Organic fertilization vs inorganic fertilization in “Cachaco” plantain in Colombia Influence of leaf removal •To strengthen the ability of NARS to conduct research and development activities on on shoot and root growth in banana Effect of hail and wind on the fruits of Dominico hartón and FHIA-21 Polyphenol oxidase activity and gene expression in the bananas and plantains fruit of Goldfinger In vitro multiplication of FHIA-18 plantain in the presence of paclobutrazol Preliminary results of a virulence test •To coordinate, facilitate and support the production, collection and exchange of of the populations of Foc for different banana cultivars Evolution of the nematofauna of plantain in Côte d’Ivoire Parasite nematodes of banana in western Burkina Faso information and documentation related to banana and plantain. Genetic and genomic diversity in banana based on molecular tools Banana in images Classification and characterization of Musa INIBAP is a programme of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute exotica, M. alinsanaya and M. acuminata ssp. errans Thesis MusaNews MusaForum INIBAP News (IPGRI), a Future Harvest center. Books etc. Announcements PROMUSA News

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INFOMUSA is published with the support of the Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA)

Vol. 10, N° 2 INFOMUSA Vol. 10, N° 2 Cover photo: Fruits stalls in Tagaytay, Philippines. CONTENTS (D. Mowbray, Baobab Productions) Integrated management of black and yellow Sigatoka diseases in plantain cv. Publisher: Africa ...... 3 International Network for the Impro- vement of Banana and Plantain Organic fertilization vs inorganic fertilization in ‘Cachaco’ plantain Managing editor: in Colombia ...... 7 Claudine Picq Influence of leaf removal on shoot and root growth in banana Editorial Committee: Emile Frison, Jean-Vincent Escalant, (Musa spp.) ...... 10 Suzanne Sharrock, Charlotte Lusty The effect of hail and wind on the development and quality of the fruits Printed in France of Dominico hartón and FHIA-21 plantain...... 13 ISSN 1023-0076 Editorial Office: Polyphenol oxidase activity and gene expression in the fruit of Goldfinger INFOMUSA, INIBAP, Parc Scientifique bananas (AAAB, FHIA-01)...... 17 Agropolis II, 34397 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. Telephone + 33-(0)4 67 61 13 In vitro multiplication of FHIA-18 plantain in the presence 02; Telefax: + 33-(0)4 67 61 03 34; of paclobutrazol...... 22 E-mail: inibap@cgiar.org Preliminary results of a virulence test of the populations of Fusarium http//:www.inibap.org Subscriptions are free for developing oxysporum f.sp. cubense for different banana cultivars countries readers. Article contributions in the greenhouse...... 24 and letters to the editor are welcomed. Articles accepted for publication may be Evolution of the nematofauna of plantain, Musa AAB, in Côte d’Ivoire...... 26 edited for length and clarity. INFOMUSA Parasite nematodes of banana in western Burkina Faso ...... 28 is not responsible for unsolicited material, however, every effort will be made to Genetic and genomic diversity in banana (Musa species and cultivars) respond to queries. Please allow three based on D2 analysis and RAPD markers ...... 29 months for replies. Unless accompanied by a copyright notice, articles appearing Banana in images...... 34 in INFOMUSA may be quoted or repro- Classification and characterization of Musa exotica, M. alinsanaya duced without charge, provided acknowledgement is given of the source. and M. acuminata ssp. errans...... 35 French-language and Spanish-language Thesis ...... 39 editions of INFOMUSA are also published. MusaNews ...... 40 To avoid missing issues of INFOMUSA, MusaForum ...... 46 notify the editorial office at least six weeks in advance of a change of address. INIBAP News...... 46 Books etc...... 51 Views expressed in articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily Announcements...... 52 reflect those of INIBAP. PROMUSA News...... I to XII Diseases Control of Sigatoka Integrated management of black and yellow Sigatoka diseases in plantain cv. Africa

L.A. Gómez Balbín The difficulties linked to the manage- tion, considering that the bunch quality and J. Castaño Zapata ment of both Sigatoka diseases increase and the shelf-life of the fruit are closely when the pathogen develops genetic related to the organic matter content of resistance to the main fungicides, par- the soil and to the nutrition of the plant he diseases known as yellow ticularly to the systemic fungicides (Arcila et al. 1999). Based on the soil (Mycosphaerella musicola Leach) (Merchán 1996). Nevertheless, disease analysis which indicated potassium Tand black (Mycosphaerella fijiensis management based only on the use of deficit (0.15 meq/100 g), and considering Morelet) Sigatoka are plant pathological chemical products is possible, but at a the importance of an adequate nutrient problems which constrain Musa produc- very high cost, especially for the small balance for the proper management of tion all over the world (Merchán 1996). and medium producers who are the most the Sigatoka diseases (Pérez 1998), we Yellow Sigatoka, first reported in affected (Maciel Cordero et al. 1998). determined an optimum fertilization plan Colombia in 1937, is the disease with the Due to this, the possibility of integrating with applications of 1 kg of poultry dung, highest incidence in the Andean different management practices was 1 kg of ashes and 200 g dolomitic lime at Colombian zone where it is generally not outlined, taking into account that chem- planting and three periodical applica- controlled (Belalcázar et al. 1991). ical management represents a very tions of Kumba (15-4-24-2) of 200 g per Although economic losses of more than important tool in the control of the site every 2 months from planting to flow- 50% due to yellow Sigatoka are reported Sigatoka diseases. However, it was recog- ering; after which the same product was worldwide (Burt et al. 1997), in the nized that the competitive capacity of applied to the follower determined for Colombian coffee zone, the damaging the fungus and its ability to reproduce the next cycle. effects of the disease seem to be compen- and persist on the leaf surface could be Equally, chemical and mechanical sated by the favourable environment for compensated by optimum management methods were integrated using scythes Musa cultivation (Merchán 1996). of nutritional conditions and by farming and Glyphosate application at a dose of However, in the central coffee zone, where practices that do not favour the infec- 1.6 L ha-1 for the management of grasses, plantain Dominico hartón (Musa AAB) is tion process of the causal agents. especially gramineous species such as widely cultivated, yellow Sigatoka disease Therefore, farming practices of chemical Rottboellia exaltata L. F., Paspalum vir- continues to prevail. Therefore it is impor- or cultural nature, added to the use of a gatum L. and Panicum maximum Jacq., tant to consider substituting this variety by resistant or tolerant variety, represent at 3, 6 and 9 months after planting. others such as cv. Africa, a selection of the the fundamental part of an integrated During the total cropping cycle, African clone ‘M. bouroukou 1’, Hartón strategy for the management of the 36 deleafings were carried out to elimi- type, that is well adapted in areas ranging Sigatoka diseases. nate the necrotic area due to Sigatoka from the sea level up to 1700 masl, with a This study was performed in order to diseases, considering that the systematic bunch that can reach 26 kg and with the determine the effect of different agro- pruning (each 7-10 days) of the leaves or fruit quality similar to that of Dominico nomic practices on the behaviour of the fractions of the leaves with mature hartón (Corpoica 2000). Moreover, this cul- Sigatoka diseases in the plantain Africa lesions reduces the inoculum production tivar possesses excellent qualities with and to establish an integrated manage- (Pérez 1998). respect to the central finger on the third ment system for both diseases. As for the chemical management, appli- hand, which has an average weight of cations of Propiconazol EC (systemic) at 510 g, a circumference of 18 cm and exter- Materials and methods a dose of 0.4 L ha-1 and/or Mancozeb SC nal and internal fruit length of 32 and This research was carried out at the (contact) at a dose of 1.75 L ha-1 (Rohm & 26 cm , respectively (Belalcázar et al. Montelindo farm, property of the Haas Colombia S.A. 1998) were made 1998). The plant cycle is approximately University of Caldas, located in Palestina using a 18-L sprayer EFCO AT 2080 with 10 months, depending on application of district, Santágueda region at 1050 masl, large range nozzle capacity, depending on fertilizer, which allows one or two func- with average temperature of 24ºC, annual the treatment and according to a biologi- tional leaves to be maintained until har- rainfall of 2200 mm, relative humidity of cal warning system developed by Fages vest (Corpoica 2000). 86% and 5.3 hours of daily sunshine. and Jiménez (1995), cited by Merchán Black Sigatoka is the main disease in Plantain plants were cv. Africa from in (1996). This consists of weekly disease banana and plantain cultivation in vitro tissue cultures, and Dominico assessments on 10 plants selected at the Central America, Panama, Colombia and hartón suckers as a source of inoculum juvenile stage, from the third month after Ecuador, as well as in many other coun- planted along the edges surrounding planting, and these plants are replaced at tries. This disease attacks the leaves, each treatment, at 2 x 3 m distance. flowering or when they become too tall. resulting in the reduction of the leaf area, The plants were disinfected for one The observations are made on the adaxial thus decreasing their photosynthetic hour in Mancozeb WP (5 g L-1 of water) side and at the end of the fourth leaf, capacity and affecting the growth and solution, and Carbofuran GR (15 g/site where the presence of the developmental productivity of the plants. The fruit qual- around each plant) was added. During stages of Sigatoka diseases is recorded ity is also reduced due to premature the production cycle, cultural practices and quantified. In the examined area the bunch maturation (Corbana 1996). were applied including optimum fertiliza- most advanced stage is established as

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 3 determined by a coefficient according to discrete necrotic and mature lesions or a Results and discussion the following scale: big necrotic area with 10 clear centers, The plant height (PHF) and the pseu- counting the leaves from the top down- dostem diameter (PDF) at flowering pre- Stage Grade Coefficient wards (Stover and Dickson 1970); and the sented significant and highly significant 1-20severity index (SI), calculated for each differences respectively, allowing to con- +40 plant in each replicate (Craenen 1998) clude that this behaviour would be deter- 2-60 according to the following formula: mined by the combined effect of the +80 applied treatments. The number of func- 3-100 ∑nb x 100 Severity index = tional leaves at flowering and harvest + 120 (N-1) T (FLF and FLH) presented highly signifi- 4-140 Where: cant differences according to the treat- + 160 n = number of leaves in each grade. ments. The treatment OF + D + CC + SC 5-180 + 200 b = grade (0 = symptomless, 1 = less treatment resulted in an average of 12.1 6-220 than 1% of leaf area affected (only streaks and 4.8 leaves at flowering and harvest, + 240 and/or up to 10 spots), 2 = 1-5% of leaf respectively, compared with the control area affected, 3 = 6-15% of leaf area which presented 8.8 and 2.3 leaves at affected, 4 = 16-33% of leaf area affected, these stages (Table 1). Likewise, the 5 = 34-50% of leaf area affected, treatments OF+CC and OF+D+CC The grade of the dominant symptom is 6 = 51-100% of leaf area affected). allowed the flowering stage to be reached determined as a minus (-) when up to 50 N= total number of grades used in the with 2.9 more leaves than the control. necrotic lesions per leaf are observed and scale (7). Taking into account that the plantain veg- a plus (+) when there are more than 50 T= total number of leaves assessed. etative growth stops when the male bud lesions. After adding the values which are The following parameters were also emerges (Champion 1968), and that the determined on 10 plants, a level of infec- measured: number of functional leaves at plant should have a minimum of eight tion on the leaf No. 4 (ILL4) is obtained flowering, i.e. number of leaves with more functional leaves (Meredith 1970, Stover for the respective week. These values are than 50% of green area (Orjeda 1998); 1972, Martínez 1984), and considering plotted on a graph in order to determine number of functional leaves at harvest; that the leaf area available to the plant the date of spraying based on the curve bunch weight (kg) at harvest; second from the flowering stage is a determining behaviour. When the ILL4 increases by hand weight (g); weight (g) of the central factor in crop production (Aristizábal and 200 units with respect to the previous finger on the second hand; length (cm) of Landinez 1993), the notable effect of the week, fungicides are applied. the central finger on the second hand; treatment based on OF+D+CC+SC on Twelve treatments distributed in a ran- plant height (m) at flowering; and pseu- the bunch weight can be appreciated domized block design with three replica- dostem diameter (cm) at flowering at 1 m (17.7 kg, compared to 4.1 kg for the con- tions were applied. The treatments were: from the ground level. trol) (Table 2). 1. Optimum fertilization + Deleafing Marginal analysis was performed which The control reached the flowering (OF+D) allowed to identify the most viable treat- stage with fewer leaves and with a sever- 2. Optimum fertilization + Contact ments from an economical point of view, ity index (SI) similar to the treatments chemical (OF +CC) comparing the investment for each of D+CC, CC+SC and D+CC+SC (Table 3). 3. Optimum fertilization + Systemic them compared to the control treatment. Even so it presented values which were chemical (OF +SC) Statistical analysis was performed by not different statistically than those pro- 4. Deleafing + Contact chemical (D + means of the statistical software SAS duced by these treatments for each vari- CC) (Statistical Analysis System for DOS ver- able of the yield: CFW, CFL, SHW and BW 5. Deleafing + Systemic chemical (D + sion 6.0), complementing it with Duncan’s (Table 2). Although the studies per- SC) multiple comparison tests at 5%. formed by Grisales (1995) in the same 6. Contact chemical + Systemic chemical (CC + SC) 7. Optimum fertilization + Deleafing + Table 1. Effect of different agronomic practices for the management of black and Contact chemical (OF + D + CC) yellow Sigatoka diseases on some growth parameters in plantain Africa. 8. Optimum fertilization + Deleafing + 1) Systemic chemical (OF + D + SC) Treatment PHF PDF FLF FLH 2) 3) 9. Optimum fertilization + Contact OF + D 3.3 ab 27.1 bcd 8.9 d 1.5 b chemical + Systemic chemical (OF + OF + CC 3.6 a 27.9 ab 11.7 ab 2.0 b CC + SC) OF + SC 3.1 b 27.7 abc 10.4 abcd 1.8 b 10. Deleafing + Contact chemical + D + CC 3.2 b 26.2 d 10.5 abcd 1.5 b Systemic chemical (D + CC + SC) D + SC 3.3 ab 27.3 bcd 10.8 abc 2.1 b 11. Optimum fertilization + Deleafing + CC + SC 3.5 ab 28.8 a 9.0 cd 1.6 b Contact chemical + Systemic chemi- OF + D + CC 3.5 ab 28.3 ab 11.7 ab 1.6 b cal (OF + D + CC + SC) OF + D + SC 3.1 b 28.1 abc 9.5 cd 2.1 b 12. Absolute control. OF + CC + SC 3.4 ab 28.6 a 10.2 bcd 2.3 b D + CC + SC 3.2 ab 26.9 cd 9.5 cd 1.8 b The following variables were evaluated: OF + D + CC + SC 3.5 ab 28.0 abc 12.1 a 4.8 a the youngest diseased leaf (YDL), which Control 3.4 ab 26.9 cd 8.8 d 2.3 b is the youngest leaf with streaks clearly 1) OF: Optimum fertilization; D: Deleafing; CC: Contact chemical; SC: Systemic chemical; PHF: Plant height (m) at flowering; PDF: visible from the ground (Orjeda 1998); Pseudostem diameter (cm) at flowering; FLF: Number of leaves at flowering; FLH: Number of leaves at harvest. the youngest leaf spotted (YLS), which is 2) Mean of three replications and five plants per repetition. 3) Means within each column accompanied by different letters denote significant statistical differences according to the multiple the first open leaf presenting 10 or more comparison range of Duncan at 5% of probability.

4 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 zone show that the leaf necrosis caused Table 2. Effect of different agronomic practices for the Sigatoka diseases by Sigatoka diseases is usually severe and management on some production parameters. intensifies after flowering, the control Treatment* CFW CFL SHW BW simply displayed its genetic characteris- OF + D 510.1 1) cde 2) 26.1 abc 3.5 bcd 12.8 de tics showing a high level of tolerance to OF + CC 618.5 ab 27.6 a 4 abc 16.1 ab Sigatoka diseases. The plants reached OF + SC 562.7 abcd 26.4 abc 4.2 ab 16.3 a fruiting with practically 50% of leaf tissue D + CC 458.9 de 24.5 c 2.9 de 12 de photosynthetically active despite a high D + SC 516 abcde 25 abc 3.2 de 13.7 bcd index of severity. This phenomenon, CC + SC 418.5 e 24.5 c 2.9 de 12.9 de according to the physiological studies by OF + D + CC 535 abcd 27.2 abc 4.4 a 15.9 abc Ganry (1989), could be explained as an OF + D + SC 497.5 cde 25.8 abc 3.3 cde 12.5 de effect of early accumulation of assimi- OF + CC + SC 571 abc 27.4 ab 4.1 ab 15.4 abc lates in the rhizome which could compen- D + CC + SC 417.3 e 24.5 c 2.6 e 10.5 e sate for the loss of leaf activity during the OF + D + CC + SC 630.3 a 27.4 ab 4.4 a 17.7 a period of fruit filling. This process is Control 481.4 cde 24.7 bc 3.1 de 13.6 cd favoured by the exceptional climatic and * See Table 1. soil conditions which prevailed during CFW: Central finger weight (g) on the second hand; CFL: Central finger length (cm) on the second hand; SHW: Second hand weight (kg); BW: Bunch weight (kg). the experiment, which gave particular 1) Mean of three replications and five plants per replication. advantage to the control treatment. 2) Means within each column accompanied by different letters denote significant statistical differences according to the multiple During the assessment of the Sigatoka comparison range of Duncan at 5% of probability. diseases behaviour in terms of severity, the results obtained indicate that all treatments behave as the control treat- Table 3. Effect of different agronomic practices for the Sigatoka diseases ment, except the treatment management on the behaviour of plantain Africa. OF+D+CC+SC which was less affected by disease attack (Table 3). Considering Treatment* YDL YLS SI that in this treatment an optimum fertil- OF + D 4 a* 5 a* 45.8 bc** ization plan has been included, the effect OF + CC 5 a 5 a 58.4 a of the nutritional component as a source OF + SC 5 a 6 a 46.3 bc of resistance of the plants to the attacks D + CC 4 a 5 a 49.6 abc by Sigatoka diseases in plantain Africa is D + SC 4 a 5 a 48.7 abc clear. This theory was presented previ- CC + SC 4 a 5 a 49.3 abc ously by Huber (1996) and Craenen OF + D + CC 5 a 5 a 55.1 ab (1998), suggesting that soil fertility and OF + D + SC 4 a 5 a 43.3 c plantain and banana growth could have a OF + CC + SC 4 a 5 a 45.0 bc direct influence on the severity of black D + CC + SC 4 a 5 a 47.8 abc Sigatoka. In fact, in soils with a proper OF + D + CC + SC 5 a 5 a 39.5 c Control 4 a 5 a 48.9 abc organic matter content, such as reported * See Table 1. in the soil analysis of this study (4.88%), YDL: The youngest diseased leaf at flowering; YLS: The youngest leaf spotted at flowering; SI: Severity index (%) at flowering. the proliferation of the root system is ** Means within each column accompanied by different letters denote significant statistical differences according to the multiple stimulated, with the resulting increase of comparison range of Duncan at 5% of probability. water and nutrient uptake. As a result, plant growth is more vigorous with a ables YDL and YLS between the treat- levels. However, strictly chemical disease higher number of functional leaves being ments with respect to the control, which management is considered unfavourable produced, which are thus less damaged could be explained by the high inoculum socioeconomically and environmentally by diseases. At the same time, the pressure in the crop that severely in developing countries, given the high adverse effect of different agronomic affected the plants in all treatments. contamination levels that can result if practices, such as OF, D, CC and SC, on After performing the analysis of data, it chemicals are applied indiscriminately or the diseases is observed (Table 3), since can be seen that the deleafing practice in inadequate doses, which can also other treatments with optimum fertiliza- followed by optimum fertilization had the aggravate the possible development of tion presented severity indices higher same effect on the severity of the diseases chemical resistance in the causal agents than this treatment. that the combination of this practice with of Sigatoka diseases, particularly due to It is important to mention that the the application of a contact or a systemic systemic products (Craenen 1998). treatments OF+CC and OF+D+CC, also chemical. The best results obtained in terms of including the optimum fertilization plan, On the other hand, six applications of yield were recorded with the treatments resulted in the highest values of severity the Mancozeb SC and Propiconazol EC OF+CC, OF+SC and OF+D+CC+SC index (SI) with 58.4% and 55.1%, respec- combination in the treatment (Table 2). The first two represent an tively, greater than the control. However, OF+D+CC+SC, based on the biological effective strategy for the management of in these cases, the final yield expressed warning system (Figure 1) stopped signif- the Sigatoka diseases, integrating the as BW, was 15.5% higher than that of the icantly the infective process of the fungi, nutritional component plus the applica- control, confirming once again the toler- thus confirming the effectiveness of the tion of a preventive or curative fungicide, ance of the plantain Africa to Sigatoka applications based on the infection level respectively, based on a biological warn- diseases. of the leaf No. 4. In this system, chemical ing system. The third treatment, in which As shown in Table 3, there were no sig- products are applied particularly when the maximum values for each yield para- nificant statistical differences in the vari- the disease severity reaches critical meter were obtained, would indicate the

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 5 1000

800

600 ILL4 400

200

0 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Weeks Application time

Figure 1. Application of systemic and protective fungicides in the treatment OF+D+CC+SC based on the infection level of the leaf No. 4 (ILL4). positive response of the plants to the (15-4-24-2) every two months and foliar tant to mention the possibility of carrying implementation of an integrated disease treatment with four applications of a con- out the experiment in the second or third management system, where the genetic, tact chemical as Mancozeb SC or a sys- crop cycle in order to estimate the conti- nutritional, chemical and cultural com- temic chemical as Propiconazol EC in nuity of the behaviour of the plants on a ponents are involved. Nevertheless, the each case, based on the biological warn- production level and ratify their future viability of the application of these treat- ing system. This contrasts with the treat- economic viability. ments as a model for the adoption of new ment OF+D+CC+SC which represents a The application of OF+D+CC+SC rep- technology could only be sustained in high technology model, adaptable only to resents a system for the “Integrated man- economic terms, for which we have car- a reduced number of farmers whose eco- agement of the Sigatoka diseases”, ried out a marginal analysis obtaining the nomic capacity would justify high invest- achieving efficiency in disease manage- cost/benefit relation of each of the treatments to increase their production. ment, as indicated by the plants having ments used. It is noted that the control 12.1 healthy leaves at flowering and had the highest return with Conclusions 4.8 healthy leaves at bunch harvest. 6.1 Colombian pesos per each invested Under the predominant conditions of the Nevertheless, from an economic point of peso, followed by the treatments CC+SC, Montelindo farm, Santagueda region, the view the investment is not justified when OF+SC and OF+CC in descending order black and yellow Sigatoka diseases considering the cost/benefit relationship with the values of 4.8, 4.2 and 4.1, respec- affected with higher severity those plants it produced. Therefore, although this tively (Table 4). which were not included in the optimum treatment provides a viable model from These results show the apparent advan- fertilization plan. The nutritional man- the phytosanitary point of view, it is not tage and economic viability of the control agement met the potential requirements suitable to the economic capacity of the as compared with the rest of the treat- of the crop while reducing the factors farmers of the region. Therefore, the ments. However, it is necessary to con- which, due to nutrition deficiency, could adoption of optimum fertilization (OF) sider the fact that the absence of man- predispose the plantain cv. Africa to the plus the application of a contact fungi- agement practices would cause a lack of Sigatoka diseases. cide (CC), based on the biological warn- nutritional balance and consequently, the According to the marginal analysis, the ing system, is considered to represent a deterioration of the plantation during the greatest benefit was obtained with the rational model of economic feasibility following production cycles. Therefore it control plants. Nevertheless, it is impor- which is safe for the environment. ■ is impossible to consider the option of establishing a permanent crop under these conditions. The treatment CC+SC Table 4. Economic analysis for different agronomic practices. could give the same impression as that of Treatment* Production Production Production Total cost Profitability the control, even more if we think of the (kg/bunch) (ton/ha) value per ha ratio environmental impact which would be per ha ($)** ($) B/C*** caused by applying strictly chemical man- OF+D 12.7 21.3 12 786 883 4 124 793 3.1 agement of the diseases. OF+CC 16.0 26.8 16 084 563 3 882 979 4.1 Although the treatments OF+CC and OF+SC 16.2 27.1 16 260 493 3 830 027 4.2 OF+SC presented significant differences D+CC 11.9 19.9 11 953 216 3 420 386 3.5 in the SI (Table 3), these were not D+SC 13.7 22.8 13 721 509 3 575 464 3.8 reflected in the BW values (Table 2), due CC+SC 12.9 21.5 12 910 833 2 684 530 4.8 to which they offer the highest viability OF+D+CC 15.9 26.5 15 920 629 4 711 059 3.4 as management systems adaptable to a OF+D+SC 12.4 20.8 12 493 000 4 332 823 2.9 model of sustainable agriculture. These OF+CC+SC 15.4 25.7 15 434 823 3 857 949 4.0 treatments allow the nutritional balance D+CC+SC 10.5 17.5 10 520 790 3 617 348 2.9 of the plants to be maintained through OF+D+CC+SC 17.6 29.4 17 682 924 5 456 740 3.2 optimum fertilization with the applica- Control 13.5 22.6 13 573 568 2 240 547 6.1 * See Table 1. tion of organic matter during planting ** $ = Colombian pesos (1000 $ = 0.44US$, November 2001). and three post-planting applications of *** Benefit/cost.

6 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 References CORPOICA. 2000. http://www.corpoica.org.co Leach. Phytopath. Paper 11. Commonwealth Arcila M., F. Aranzazu, C. Castrillon, J. Valencia, M. Craenen K. 1998. Technical manual on black Mycological Institute, Kew, UK. Bolaños & P. Castellanos. 1999. Laborales cultur- Sigatoka disease of banana and plantain. Orjeda G. 1998. Evaluation of Musa germplasm for ales. Pp. 19-20 in El cultivo del plátano. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, resistance to Sigatoka diseases and Fusarium wilt. CORPOICA, Manizales, Comité Departamental de Ibadan, Nigeria. INIBAP Technical Guidelines 3. INIBAP, Cafeteros del Quindio. FUDESCO. Armenia. Champion J. 1968. El plátano. Pp. 48-70 in Montpellier, France. Colombia. Agricultura Tropical. Blume, Barcelona. Pérez L. 1998. Black Sigatoka disease control in Aristizabal L.M & C.R. Landinez. 1993. Contribución Fages O. & F. Jiménez. 1995. El control de la Sigatoka banana and plantain plantations in Cuba. INFO- de las hojas al llenado del racimo en plátano negra en el cultivo de plátano. Hoja técnica MIP MUSA 7(1):26-30. (Musa AAB cv. Hartón Enano). Revista No. 4. CATIE-Cirad. Turrialba, Costa Rica. 4pp. Rohm & Haas Colombia S.A. 1998. Evaluación del Universidad de Caldas 13 (1-3): 77-89. Ganry J. 1992. Mejoramiento del cultivo del plátano fungicida Dithane 60 SC (Mancozeb) bajo un pro- Belalcázar S., J. Valencia & M. Arcila. 1998. en la zona cafetera de Colombia. 1989-1992. grama de control de Sigatoka negra Conservación y evaluación de la colección colom- Informe final. Santafé de Bogotá (Colombia). (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet), en el cultivo biana de musáceas. Pp. 1-20 in Memorias: Federacafé-ICA-Cirad. de banano - zona del Magdalena - Colombia. Santa Seminario Internacional sobre Producción de Grisales L.F. 1995. La Sigatoka amarilla y la produc- Fe de Bogotá. Rohm and Haas Colombia S.A. Plátano (M.J. Giraldo Cardona, S. Belalcázar ción de plátano en la zona cafetera central de Stover R.H. 1972. Banana, plantain and abaca dis- Carvajal, D.G. Cayón Salinas & R.G. Botero Isaza, Colombia. Cenicafé (Colombia) 46(3): 176-178. eases. 1st ed. Commonwealth Mycological eds). CORPOICA, Armenia, Colombia. Huber D.M. 1996. Manejo de la nutrición para Institute, Kew, UK. 316pp. Belalcázar S. 1991. El cultivo del plátano en el el combate de patógenos de plantas. San José, Stover R.H. & J.D. Dickson. 1970. Leaf spot of trópico: Manual de asistencia técnica No. 50. (S.L. Costa Rica. bananas caused by Mycosphaerella musicola: Belacázar, J.C. Toro & R. Jaramillo, eds). ICA, Maciel Cordeiro Z., A. Pires de Matos, S. de Oliveira methods of measuring spotting prevalence CIID, Comité de Cafeteros de Colombia, INIBAP. da Silva. 1998. Black Sigatoka confirmed in Brazil. and severity. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad) 47: Cali, Colombia. 376pp. INFOMUSA 7(1):31. 289-302. Burt J.A., J. Rutter & H. González. 1997. Short dis- Martínez G.A. 1984. Determinación del área mínima tance wind dispersal of the fungal pathogens caus- foliar en plátano en el trópico húmedo. Revista ing Sigatoka diseases in banana and plantain. ICA 19(2): 183-187. Luz Adriana Gómez Balbín is studying Agricultural Plant Pathology 40(4): 451-458. Merchán V. 1996. Prevención y manejo de la Sigatoka engineering at the Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Caldas and Jairo CORBANA. 1996. El combate de la Sigatoka negra. negra. ICA seccional Caldas. Boletin informativo. Castaño Zapata is a Professor, Departamento de Departamento de Investigaciones, Corporación Manizales. 30pp. Filotecnía, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Bananera Nacional. Boletín No. 4. CORBANA, San Meredith D.S. 1970. Banana leaf spot disease Universidad de Caldas, Apartado Aéreo 275, José, Costa Rica. (Sigatoka) caused by Mycosphaerella musicola Manizales, Colombia.

Agronomy Organic farming

Organic fertilization vs inorganic fertilization in ‘Cachaco’ plantain in Colombia

E. Echeverry Navarro Organic farming is a system that incor- factors in rational farming. The decom- porates agronomic, economic and social position of plant and animal residues in aspects. In this type of agriculture, pref- the soil forms a biological system in t is considered that the use of organic erence goes to the use of organic factors which carbon is returned to the atmos- fertilizer contributes to restoring bio- of production (manure or compost) as phere in the form of carbon dioxide and Idiversity, biological dynamics and the fertilizer; insect pests and diseases are in which nitrogen becomes available in soil fertility lost under the pressure of controlled using plant extracts acting as ammonia and nitrate form. Elements continuous agricultural use. repellents or bioregulators; natural or such as phosphorus, sulphur and other Large quantities of nutrients are taken induced biological control is used, as is nutrients are present in forms that can up during each crop cycle and the soil crop rotation for protection of the latter be taken up by plants. becomes more impoverished than if it and to make better use of soils It is difficult to achieve a permanent remained fallow. A cultivated soil loses a The use of organic fertilizers is per- increase in soil organic content under the large proportion of its biodynamics haps the oldest and most common prac- usual tropical conditions because of the because of the salt residues from inor- tice in organic farming. Farmers have high temperatures and moisture that ganic fertilizers and the large quantities long used manure, compost, biological cause the rapid oxidation of the plant and of irrigation water than cause the leach- fertilizers and agroindustrial wastes as animal residues in the soil. However, it is ing and deep percolation of nutrients and sources of organic fertilization (Laprade very useful for physical, chemical and bio- the leaching of bases, acidifying the soil and Riz 1999). logical reasons to conserve existing and making it toxic. All these factors con- Organic matter of plant and animal organic matter by spreading plant tribute to loss of fertility and soil biodi- origin affects various soil properties and residues or well-decomposed manure or versity (Orozco 1999). so maintaining its level is one of the key by using green manure.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 7 The mixing of easily decomposed applied as a source of nitrogen and potas- organic material with the soil enriches sium chloride containing 60% potassium both the fauna and flora in the environ- as a source of K2O. ment and especially the bacterial popula- The organic fertilizer used was dry, tion. It thus stimulates the decomposi- well-decomposed cattle manure (the tion of the organic material already most abundant type in the zone) col- present in the soil and that of added lected from the pens in which the cattle material and is beneficial for plant nutri- are stabled for the night. tion (Muñoz 1994). It is not rare in the central southern Treatments part of Tolima department (Colombia), for small and medium scale farmers to T1: organic fertilization (organic matter) combine crop farming and small-scale Cattle manure was applied at 2 kg per animal husbandry. A few heads of cattle plant when the suckers were planted. graze during the day in the green areas Five further monthly applications of 2 kg along the roads, tracks and irrigation each were subsequently applied, making canals. The animals are enclosed in small a total of 12 kg. pens at night, where manure accumu- lates and is then stored nearby, becoming T2: inorganic fertilization (chemical) a pollution factor through the breeding of 100 g ‘triple 18’ was applied at planting insects, and especially dipterans. and then a further 100 g 30 days after the Farms are devoted mainly to food planting of suckers in the field. Cachaco plantain bunches, without/with crops. The most common cultivated inflorescence. This was followed by the application of species in the zone are maize, cassava, 100 g urea and 100 g potassium chloride beans and of course ‘Cachaco’ plantain, to each plant in the form of four monthly the staple rural foodstuff in the region. applications from Day 60 after the plant- The bunches of ‘Cachaco’ plantains clayey, pH 6.0 (slightly acid), low organic ing of the suckers. harvested are generally very small and content (1%), average P (15.9 ppm) and therefore not very suitable for sale on the S (6.7 ppm) levels, high Fe (73.0 ppm) T3: 50% organic fertilizer plus 50% local market. This is why several farmers level, medium to low Cu (0.60 ppm) con- inorganic fertilizer decided to apply inorganic fertilizer to tents and low Zn (1.4 ppm), Mn (7.1 ppm) Applied on the same dates as in treat- increase bunch size. However, this proce- and B (0.10 ppm) contents. The Ca con- ments T1 and T2. dure is very expensive for them, if only tent is relatively high (2.7 meq/100 g soil), because of the fertilizer transport costs. and the Mg (0.63 meq/100 g soil) and T4: Control, with no fertilization In order to find solutions that are K (0.32 meq/100 g soil) are low. The viable from the economic and environ- Ca:Mg ratio is high and the cation mental points of view, we developed the exchange capacity (CEC) is low. Methods experiments described below to improve In the Suárez municipal area, Tierra Planting out was performed in early 1998 the production and productivity of Mía farm at Limonal on the bank of the with the 2.50 x 2.50 m spacing generally ‘Cachaco’ plantain while reducing pro- river Magdalena in the alluvial plain of used in the zone. Healthy suckers from duction costs and making appropriate use this river at an altitude of 400 m, average the region were first cleaned and disin- of the organic matter produced on the annual temperature 28°C, average fected with a mixture of fungicide farm. In the process, we tried to solve the annual precipitation 1300 to 1700 mm in (Manzate) and insecticide (liquid problem of the pollution caused by the two seasons and relative humidity 75%. Carbofuran) sprayed directly on the accumulation of manure around the cat- Analyses showed that the soil has plants in the planting hole. tle pens, which are almost always too loamy-clayey texture, pH 6.9 (practically Fertilization was performed as in the close to small farmers’ dwellings. neutral), a low organic content (1.86%), treatments above. It was also sought to generate and high S (15.7 ppm), P (39.8 ppm), Zn The necessary agricultural tasks were transfer these techniques within the (30 ppm) and Mn (374 ppm) contents, a performed during plant growth, in partic- framework of participative learning by medium to high B (1.06 ppm) content, ular mechanical weed mowing and some- the communities concerned. medium Fe (15.0 ppm.) and Cu (1.2 ppm) times weed cutting with a ‘machete’. The levels, medium to high Ca level small secondary suckers were also Material and methods (17.8 meq/100 g soil) and high Mg removed with a special tool, leaving only The experiment lasted for 14 months (2.6 meq/100 g soil) and K (0.45 meq/100 g the mother plant and two suckers at most (1998-1999) at two locations in the cen- soil) levels. This soil displays a high at each plant position. Deleafing was only tral southern part of Tolima department: Ca:Mg ratio and a high cation exchange necessary twice in the trial in Suárez In the Espinal municipal area, at Villa capacity. municipal area as a phytosanitary mea- Mercedes farm at Aguablanca, the soil sure necessitated by black Sigatoka corresponds to the range of soils observed Material attacks. No insecticide or fungicide was in the Espinal zone, average annual tem- The plantain cultivar known in the region applied to the plantation. perature is 28°C, altitude 400 m, average as ‘Cachaco’ (ABB Simmonds) was used. annual precipitation in two rainy seasons This clone is most frequently planted and Experimental protocol is 1400 mm and relative humidity is 70%. appreciated by consumers in the zone. An experimental protocol of completely According to the soil analyses per- The inorganic fertilizer used was ‘triple randomized blocks was used, with four formed in the laboratory, the soil is loamy- 18’ (N-P-K); urea containing 46% N was treatments and three repetitions.

8 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 Table 1. Analysis of variance of the development and production variables in ‘Cachaco’ plantain at two locations in Tolima department. Espinal, 1999.

Location F2 Treatment Location by treatment Development and production variables DF1 Square mean Pr > F2 DF Square mean Pr > F DF Square mean Pr > F Plant height 1 349619.620 0.0001** 3 1050.843 0.2177 NS 3 536.399 0.4819 NS Pseudostem girth 1 2618.770 0.0001** 3 27.112 0.2116 NS 3 12.356 05206 NS Functional leaves at harvesting 1 4.950 0.0107* 3 2.393 0.0261 * 3 1.718 0.0639 NS Hands per bunch 1 5.802 0.0003** 3 1.466 0.0085** 3 0.113 0.7017 NS Fingers per bunch 1 3639.575 0.0001** 3 94.375 0.0090** 3 54.822 0.0473 NS Bunch weight 1 764310493.500 0.0001** 3 3597893.220 0.0684 NS 3 1372386.280 0.3603 NS 1 DF = degree of freedom; 2 Pr>F =% of probability; NS = Not significant; * = Significant; ** = Highly significant

Results and discussion Table 2. The effect of organic and mineral fertilization on the cultivation of The data were compiled and processed ‘Cachaco’ plantain in two locations in Tolima department. Espinal, 1999. and combined statistical analysis was Location Variables performed for the two locations, the four treatments and the three repetitions, tak- Plant Pseudostem Leaves Hands Fingers Bunch height girth at per per weight ing development and production parame- (cm) (cm) harvesting bunch bunch (kg) ters into account. Suárez 443.72 A 57.14 A 6.25 B 5.36 A 65.30 A 19.588 A Development was evaluated using the Espinal 202.33 B 36.25 B 7.15 A 4.37 B 40.67 B 8.302 B following parameters: Values with different letters in the same column are statistically different (Tukey P ≤ 0.05). • plant height in cm, • pseudostem girth 1 m above the ground, measured in cm, • total number of functional leaves at Table 2, with a comparison of the two loca- No statistical differences were harvesting. tions: Suárez with fertile soils containing observed in bunch weight at harvesting, Three parameters were used for the pro- good nutrients and Espinal with highland the most important variable for growers, duction variable: plateau soils with less nutrients. The although the bunches grown with no fer- • total number of hands in the bunches organic content was low in both cases. tilization (T4) weighed up to 1600 g less harvested, It was noticed in this experiment with than those to which organic (cattle • total number of fingers in the bunches multiple combinations that the measure- manure), inorganic or mixed (inorganic at harvesting, ments concerning the growth parameter - fertilizer + manure) fertilizer had been • bunch weight in g at harvesting. that is to say plant height and pseu- applied. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is pre- dostem girth - are greater in Suárez sented in Table 1 for the six measure- where the ‘Cachaco’ plants were taller Economic analysis ments of the two parameters considered and thicker than those in Espinal. The costs of organic and inorganic fertil- for the two locations and the four treat- The number of functional leaves at har- izer (T1 versus T2) are compared in ments and for the interactions between vesting was greater in Espinal than in Table 4. It can be noted that organic fer- locations and treatments. Suárez. This is possibly because relative tilization costs Colombian pesos (COP) Very significant differences in the three humidity is higher and the plants are 160 000 (approximately US$ 80), i.e. 33% development parameters and the three stronger in Suárez. Fungal attacks are of the cost of chemical fertilization of production parameters can be observed facilitated there, leading to a decrease in COP 480 000 (US$ 240). Production costs between Espinal and Suárez. The results the number of functional leaves, whereas are thus clearly lower with organic fertil- for Suárez are better, especially for bunch the risks are smaller in Espinal because ization. weight at harvesting, which interests the atmosphere is drier and plant growth Allowing for the fact that in terms of farmers most. This may be the result of less strong. bunch weight there are no statistical dif- better soil conditions, as can be seen in The three measurements of production ferences between production using the results of the laboratory analyses. parameters were higher in Suárez, and chemical fertilization or organic fertiliza- There are no significant differences especially bunch weight at harvesting. tion, it is clear that it is better to use between treatments with regard to plant This may be the result of better soil con- organic fertilization that is cheaper and height, pseudostem girth and bunch ditions (fertile valley soil) at the planting also contributes to improving the physi- weight at harvesting. location. cal properties of the soil and conserves However, there are significant differ- The effect of organic and inorganic fer- fertility better in the long term. ences between treatments with regard to tilization of ‘Cachaco’ plantain in relation It is considered that one day’s labour is the number of functional leaves at har- to the development and production vari- required to gather and transport a tonne of vesting and very significant differences in ables measured during the experiment is manure, given the short distances between numbers of hands and fingers per bunch, analyzed in Table 3. Statistically signifi- cattle pens and plantations. The daily which can be ascribed to the soil condi- cant differences are observed in the num- wage is currently COP 10 000 (= US$5). tions described above. bers of hands and fingers. The results of No statistically significant difference treatment T4 (no fertilization) are less Conclusions was found for interaction between loca- good than those of T1 and T2. Significant It is recommended from the economic, tions and treatments. differences were also found in the num- ecological and production point of view The effect of organic fertilization on the ber of functional leaves at harvesting; this that decomposed cattle manure recov- cultivation of ‘Cachaco’ is shown in was smaller in treatment T4 than in T3. ered from pens should be used to fertilize

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 9 Table 3. The effect of organic and inorganic fertilization on the cultivation of ‘Cachaco’ plantain at two locations in Tolima department. Espinal, 1999.

Treatment Variables

Plant Pseudostem Leaves Hands Fingers Bunch height girth at per per weight (cm) (cm) harvesting bunch bunch (kg) T1 organic fertilization 330.55 A 48.12 A 7.08 AB 5.01 A 56.28 A 14.309 A T2 inorganic fertilization 320.47 A 45.85 A 6.55 AB 5.17 A 55.51 A 14.313 A T3 mixed fertilization 335.55 A 48.72 A 7.30 A 5.16 A 52.63 AB 14.375 A T4 control 305.55 A 44.10 A 5.88 B 4.13 B 47.53 B 12.785 A Values with different letters in the same column are statistically different (Tukey P ≤ 0.05).

crops of ‘Cachaco’ plantain. It also helps Table 4. Comparison of the cost of chemical and organic fertilization of ‘Cachaco’ to prevent this manure from being a fac- plantain (Musa ABB) in central Tolima. Espinal, 1999. tor in pollution. Type of Source of Dose Dose Cost of Cost of When cattle manure of this type of fertilization inorganic per plant in kg/ha for fertilizer in fertilizer in source is used for fertilization, pollution fertilizer in grams 1333 plants US$ per kg COP per ha and fertilization costs decrease without Inorganic Triple 18 200 266.6 520 168 632 reducing bunch production. This experi- Urea 46 400 533.2 340 181 288 ment shows that organic fertilization is KCl 400 533.2 320 170 624 as effective for the productivity of Sub-total 480544 ‘Cachaco’ plantain as inorganic fertiliza- Organic Cattle manure 12 000 16 000 10 160000 tion, which is more expensive * Costs in 1999 were: Triple 18 compound fertilizer COP 26 000/50 kg bag (=$US13) Urea, 46% N COP 17 000/50 kg bag (=$US8.50)

Cost comparison showed that the cost KCl, 60% K2O COP 16 000/50 kg bag (=$US8) of organic fertilization was a third (33%) Daily wage in the zone COP 10 000 (=$US5) of that of inorganic fertilization. It was observed that bunch weight was equivalent in both cases. The lower cost of Echeverry N.E. 1996. Costos de producción en el cul- Organic/environmentally friendly banana produc- organic fertilization thus results in tivo del plátano en el CRECED Centro Tolima. tion. Proceedings of a workshop held at EARTH, greater crop profitability. Recopilación de información UMATA, ICA Guácimo, Costa Rica, 27-29 July 1998 (F.E. Regional 6. Espinal. 8pp. Rosales, S.C. Tripon and J. Cerna, eds). INIBAP, Acknowledgements Laprade C.S. & R. Ruiz B. 1999. Productive behaviour Montpellier, France. The author thanks Antonio María of FHIA-01 (AAAB) and FHIA-02 (AAAB), under Steel R. & Torrie. 1988. Bioestadística: Principios y Caicedo (MS), agricultural engineer, of inorganic and organic fertilization programmes. procedimientos. 2nd ed. (1rst ed. in Spanish). CORPOICA C.I.N. Nataima, for valuable Pp. 171-176 in Organic/environmentally friendly McGraw-Hill, México. 622pp. help in the statistical analysis of the work banana production. Proceedings of a workshop presented. ■ held at EARTH, Guácimo, Costa Rica, 27-29 July 1998 (F.E. Rosales, S.C. Tripon & J. Cerna, eds). References INIBAP, Montpellier, France. Belalcázar S. (ed.). 1991. El cultivo del plátano en el Muñoz A.R. 1994. Los abonos orgánicos y su uso en la trópico. Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario ICA. agricultura. Pp. 293-304 in Fertilidad de suelos, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia. 491pp. diagnóstico y control (M.F. Silva, ed.). Sociedad Castro F.H. 1996. Bases técnicas para el Colombiana de la ciencia del suelo. Santafé de conocimiento y manejo de los suelos del valle Bogotá. Colombia. cálido del Alto Magdalena. CORPOICA Regional Orozco R. J. 1999. Organic fertilizers and their appli- The author works at CORPOICA, C.I. Nataima, 6: 25-45. cation in banana cropping. Pp. 79-85 in Apartado Postal 064, Espinal (Tolima) Colombia.

Physiology Crop development Influence of leaf removal on shoot and root growth in banana (Musa spp.)

G. Blomme, A. Tenkouano leaves (Martinez Garnica 1984). Thus, black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis and R. Swennen leaf area can be used to estimate the Morelet), reduces the yield (Jaramillo photosynthetic capacity and to predict 1987, Stover and Simmonds 1987, Jeger the performance of a banana crop et al. 1995). According to Robinson lant size and bunch weight of (Turner 1980, Swennen and De Langhe (1996), pruning of banana leaves is usu- Musa spp. directly depends on the 1985, Stover and Simmonds 1987). Leaf ally carried out for two main reasons. Pnumber and size of functional area reduction by pests or diseases, e.g. Firstly, the spread of the leaf spot dis-

10 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 ease, black Sigatoka, can be reduced by Materials and methods (TL, cm). The average diameter of the excising leaves with more than 50% This study was carried out at the IITA cord roots was measured with a Vernier necrotic area. Secondly, one or two young High Rainfall station at Onne (4º42’N, Calliper, while the cord root length was healthy leaves which are rubbing and 7º10’E, 5 masl) in southeastern Nigeria measured using the line intersect method scarring fingers on the developing bunch which represents the humid forest eco- according to Newman (1966) and may be sacrificed to improve the fruit logical zone. The soil is an ultisol derived Tennant (1975). The line intersect quality, if bunch covers are not used. from coastal sediments, well drained but method consists of spreading the cord Several studies have been conducted poor in nutrients and with a pH of 4.3 in roots on a grid, where after the interac- to estimate the smallest number of 1:1 H2O. The average annual rainfall is tion points root-gridline are counted. The leaves needed for maximum yield. 2400 mm distributed monomodally from number of interaction points were then Satyanarayana (1986) concluded that no February until November. The genotypes multiplied by the length conversion fac- fewer than 12 leaves were required dur- evaluated were ‘Valery’ (Musa AAA, tor 2.3571 appropriate to the used grid ing the vegetative stage to achieve maxi- Cavendish sub-group) and ‘Obino l’Ewai’ size of 3 cm by 3 cm. mum yields in the dessert banana ‘Dwarf (Musa AAB, medium French plantain). Significant differences of the growth Cavendish’. However, Robinson et al. In vitro-derived plants were used as characteristics were established using (1992) found that maximum yield and planting material. Planting was done on the least significant difference method finger length could be achieved in the 16 June 1998 and evaluation was done at (LSD) of PROC GLM by SAS (SAS 1989). dessert banana ‘Williams’ with eight 33 weeks after planting (WAP), during leaves retained at flower emergence, due the pre-flowering stage, in early Results and discussion to a compensatory increase in CO2 February 1999. Leaf removal started at Increased leaf pruning resulted in a sig- uptake by up to 35% on the pruned 15 WAP. The field layout was a factorial nificant reduction of most growth para- plants. Martinez Garnica (1984) also randomized complete block design with meters of the plant crop, except for the found that at least eight leaves at flower- two replications. There were three leaf number of cord roots (Table 1). This indi- ing were required to ensure normal plant pruning treatments: control (no prun- cates that leaf area influences the overall development of plantains. ing), mild pruning (seven leaves left), plant growth and confirms observations The relationships between root and and severe pruning (four leaves left). made by Brown and Don Scott (1984). No shoot growth have been described for There were four plants for each genotype significant differences were observed for several crops (Pearsall 1927, Brouwer and treatment. Plant spacing was the total number of leaves produced, indi- 1966, Broschat 1998, Fort and Shaw 2mx2m. Only the biggest sucker was cating that the leaf production rate was 1998). Marler and Stushnoff (1999) allowed to grow. The field was irrigated not affected by leaf removal. reported a significant and negative during the dry season at a rate of 100 mm The leaf area reduction in ‘Obino effect of defoliation of papaya plants on per month. The experimental area was l’Ewai’ was 25 and 61% for mild and root densities. For example, fine roots treated with the nematicide Nemacur severe pruning, respectively (Table 1). completely disappeared one week post- (a.i. fenamiphos) at a rate of 15 g plant-1 However, the percentage reduction in defoliation. Brown and Don Scott (1984) (3 treatments year-1). Fertilization was pseudostem growth, corm and root devel- reported that changes in soybean shoot done with muriate of potassium (60% K) opment characteristics was less and growth also affect root growth and vice- at a rate of 600 g plant-1 year-1, and urea ranged, for example for the plant crop, versa. For example, excessive tempera- (47% N) at a rate of 300 g plant-1 year-1, from 4 to 21% and 17 to 54% for mild and ture and evaporative demand or inade- split over 6 equal applications during the severe pruning, respectively (Table 1). quate light reduce photosynthetic rainy season, i.e. March until November. This points to a compensatory increase in activity, which not only slows shoot No mulch was applied. photosynthetic efficiency in the remain- growth but also limits photosynthate Root system and shoot characteristics ing leaves as shown by Robinson et al. translocation to the roots, thereby were measured for the plant crop and the (1992). Similarly, Myers and Ferree reducing root growth. The decline in the sucker. The height of the plant (PH, cm), (1983) reported that defoliation of young root growth subsequently decreases the circumference of the pseudostem at soil apple trees caused an increased photo- flow of water and nutrients to the shoot. level (PC, cm), number of leaves (NL), synthetic rate in the remaining leaves. Thus a stress originating in the canopy is number of leaves produced from planting However, the percentage reduction in transmitted at varying degrees of sever- until assessment (TNL) and leaf area root dry weight and cord root length in ity throughout the entire plant (Brown (LA, cm2) were measured. Leaf length ‘Valery’ was higher than the percentage and Don Scott 1984). Hodgkinson and and leaf widest width were measured and reduction in leaf area under mild prun- Becking (1977) reported for different LA was calculated according to Obiefuna ing, while the percentage reduction in arid zone plants that defoliation or shoot and Ndubizu (1979). In addition, length leaf area and root dry weight was similar removal caused a decrease in root of the tallest sucker (LS, cm) was mea- under severe pruning (Table 1). growth and branching and an increase sured. The root system of the mother Sucker height in ‘Obino l’Ewai’ was in root mortality. plant and the suckers was completely dug reduced by 33% with mild pruning and Like in other crop species, there is a out. The following root characteristics 81% with severe pruning (Table 2). In strong relationship between root and were assessed for the mother plant: num- contrast, pruning did not significantly shoot growth in Musa spp. (Swennen ber of adventitious roots or cord roots affect sucker growth in ‘Valery’ (Table 2). 1984, Blomme and Ortiz 1996). However, (NR), average diameter at the base of the This could be explained by the difference the influence of leaf removal on root sys- cord roots (AD, mm), cord root length in suckering behaviour between the two tem development of Musa spp. has not (LR, cm) and root dry weight (DR, g). In genotypes. Eckstein et al. (1995) and been investigated. The objective of this addition, root characteristics measured Shanmugavelu et al. (1992) reported a study was to assess the influence of a for the whole mat (i.e. mother plant and higher independence of the maiden type reduced leaf area on the root system size suckers) included: total root dry weight suckers, i.e. large suckers with foliage of banana (Musa spp.) plants. (TD, g) and total cord root length leaves and a large root system, compared

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 11 Table 1. The effect of number of leaves retained on the plant crop on different plant crop growth characteristics in the varieties ‘Obino l’Ewai’ and ‘Valery’.

Trait*

LA NL TNL PH PC CW CH WW DR NR LR Obino l’Ewai all leaves 82 788 A 9.3 A 33.3 A 232.3 A 73.4 A 6 924.3 A 21.3 A 22.3 A 263.1 A 215.0 A 4 195.6 A 7 leaves 61 911 B 7.0 B 32.0 A 223.3 A 66.8 B 5 456.0 B 19.9 A 20.3 A 239.6 A 185.8 A 3 693.0 A 4 leaves 32 400 C 4.3 C 33.3 A 193.3 B 56.4 C 3 198.6 C 16.4 B 17.5 B 133.1 B 159.5 A 2 555.7 B LSD (5%) 12 993 1.3 2.2 24.3 6.6 1 450 2.8 2.5 106.0 56.7 1 052.1 7 (% reduction) 25 24 4 4 9 21 7 9 9 14 12 4 (% reduction) 61 54 0 17 23 54 23 22 49 26 39 Valery all leaves 82 664 A 11.0 A 31.3 A 206.2 A 68.7 A 5 721.3 A 20.0 A 20.9 A 265.5 A 263.0 A 4 683.6 A 7 leaves 58 504 A B 7.3 B 31.3 A 198.3 A 61.0 A B 4 207.3 A B 19.9 A 18.0 A B 156.3 B 197.7 A 2 870.9 B 4 leaves 35 244 B 4.0 C 30.3 A 188.3 A 54.4 B 2 988.9 B 17.8 A 16.5 B 110.3 B 181.3 A 2 589.8 B LSD (5%) 29 446 2.7 3.7 21.8 9.9 1 566.4 4.0 3.3 88.5 88.5 1 423.5 7 (% reduction) 29 33 0 4 11 26 0 14 41 25 39 4 (% reduction) 57 64 3 9 21 48 11 21 58 31 45 *: LA: leaf area (cm2), NL: number of leaves, TNL: total number of leaves produced, PH: height of the plant (cm), PC: plant circumference (cm), CW: corm fresh weight (g), CH: corm height (cm), WW: corm widest width (cm), DR: root dry weight (g), NR: number of cord roots, LR: cord root length (cm).

Table 2. The effect of number of leaves retained on the plant crop on different plant growth characteristics of the biggest sucker (s) and the entire mat (m) in the varieties ‘Obino l’Ewai’ and ‘Valery’.

Trait*

LAs PHs PCs CWs DRs NRs LRs LAm CWm DRm NRm LRm Obino l’Ewai all leaves 23.0 A 40.5 A 17.0 A 592.4 A 39.1 A 31.0 A 797.3 A 82 811 A 7516.6 A 302.2 A 246.0 A 4 992.9 A 7 leaves 13.0 A B 27.3 A B 13.1 A 346.4 A B 26.5 A B 24.8 A 707.1A B 61 924 B 5802.4 B 266.1 A 210.5 A 4 400.1 A 4 leaves 0.0 B 7.9 B 4.9 B 141.6 B 14.2 B 20.3 A 415.3 B 32 400 C 3340.2 C 147.3 B 179.8 A 2 971.0 B LSD (5%) 21.4 21.9 7.6 326.3 23.3 21.7 361.7 13 011 1676.8 116.1 68.3 1 260 7% reduction 44 33 23 42 32 20 11 25 23 12 14 12 4% reduction 100 81 71 76 64 35 48 61 56 51 27 40 Valery all leaves 9 706 A 86.0 A 24.3 A 559.6 A 36.5 A 61.7 A 859.5 A 92 370 A 6280.9 A 302.0 A 324.7 A 5 543.1 A 7 leaves 8 093 A 63.7 A 21.0 A 351.6 A 24.0 A 53.3 A 672.3 A 66 598 A B 4558.9 A B 180.4 B 251.0 A 3 538.8 B 4 leaves 10 236 A 62.3 A 19.0 A 313.8 A 17.8 A 46.3 A 667.8 A 45 481 B 3302.8 B 128.1 B 227.5 A 3 262.2 B LSD (5%) 16 459 49.1 12.8 365.2 22.2 37.5 643.3 33 005 1772.7 100.2 105.4 1 800.6 7% reduction 17 26 39 37 34 14 22 28 27 40 23 36 4% reduction -5 28 45 44 51 25 22 51 47 58 30 41 *: see Table 1. to peepers (i.e. small suckers appearing important for the early development and authors thank Mr Emeka Onwuvuariri for just above the ground with scale leaves growth of the succeeding ratoon crop. helping with the data collection. ■ and a small root system size) or sword Anchorage strength of the Musa spp. suckers (i.e. large suckers with lanceo- plants may be weakened by leaf area References late leaves and a moderately developed reduction as a decrease in the size of the Blomme G. & R. Ortiz. 1996. Preliminary evaluation root system). Sucker development in corm and most root characteristics was of variability in Musa root system development. ‘Obino l’Ewai’ is inhibited and only peep- observed for both genotypes. Therefore, Pp. 51-52 in Biology of root formation and devel- ers or small sword suckers were observed leaf area reduction due to biotic or opment (A. Altman ed.). Plenum Publishing at the time of assessment. Hence, these anthropic factors may influence the inci- Company, New York. suckers were strongly dependent on the dence of toppling and the overall perfor- Broschat T.K. 1998. Root and shoot growth patterns in plant crop and were highly influenced by mance of banana plants. four palm species and their relationships with air the leaf area reduction. ‘Valery’ has a reg- and soil temperatures. HortScience 33(6): 995-998. ulated suckering behaviour (i.e. 2 to 3 Brouwer R. 1966. Root growth of grasses and cereals. well-developed suckers are formed) and Acknowledgements Pp. 153-166 in The growth of cereals and grasses maiden suckers were observed at the Financial support by the Flemish (F.L. Milthorpe and J.D. Ivins, eds). Butterworths, time of assessment. Hence, the stronger Association for Development Cooperation London. independence of these maiden suckers and Technical Assistance (VVOB: i may have contributed to the observed Vlaamse Vereniging voor Ontwikkelings- Eckstein K., J.C. Robinson & S.J. Davie. 1995. non-significant differences in sucker samenwerking en Technische Bijstand) Physiological responses of banana (Musa AAA; growth traits. Thus, leaf area size of the and the Directorate General for Cavendish sub-group) in the subtropics. III. Gas plant crop, especially for genotypes with International Cooperation (DGIC, exchange, growth analysis and source-sink inter- an inhibited suckering, seems to be Belgium) is gratefully acknowledged. The

12 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 action over a complete crop cycle. J. Hortic. Sci. distribution in young apple trees. J. Am. Soc. Stover R.H. & N.W. Simmonds. 1987. Bananas, 3rd ed. 70(1):169-180. Hortic. Sci. 108: 4-9. Longman, UK. 468pp. Fort S.B. & D.V. Shaw. 1998. Phenotypic correlations Newman E.I. 1966. A method of estimating the total Swennen R. 1984. A physiological study of the suck- between root and shoot traits of strawberry in length of root in a sample. J. appl. Ecol. 3: 139-145. ering behaviour in plantain (Musa cv. AAB). Ph.D. fumigated and non-fumigated soils. HortScience Obiefuna J.C. & T.O.C. Ndubizu. 1979. Estimating leaf thesis, Dissertationes de Agricultura n°132, 33: 222-224. area of plantain. Sci. Hortic. 11: 31-36. Faculty of Agriculture, Katholieke Universiteit Hodgkinson K.C. & H.G.B. Becking. 1977. Effect of Pearsall W.H. 1927. Growth studies. VI. On the rela- Leuven, 180pp. defoliation on root growth of some arid zone tive size of plant organs. Ann. Bot. 41: 449-556. Swennen R. & E.A. De Langhe. 1985. Growth parame- perennial plants. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 29: 31-42. Robinson J.C. 1996. Bananas and Plantains. CAB ters of yield of plantain (Musa cv. AAB). Ann. Bot. Jaramillo R. 1987. Banana and plantain production International. Wallingford, Oxon, UK. 238 pp. 56: 197-204. in Latin America and the Caribbean. Pp. 39-43 Robinson J.C., T. Anderson & K. Eckstein. 1992. The Tennant D. 1975. A test of a modified line intersect in Banana and plantain breeding strategies influence of functional leaf removal at flower method of estimating root length. J. Ecol. 63: 995- (G.J. Persley and E.A. De Langhe, eds). ACIAR emergence on components of yield and photosyn- 1001. Proceedings No. 21. ACIAR, Canberra. thetic compensation in banana. J. Hortic. Sci. Turner D.W. 1980. Some factors related to yield com- Jeger M.J., S. Eden-Green, J.M. Thresh, A. Johanson, 67(3): 403-410. ponents of bananas in relation to sampling to J.M. Waller & A.E. Brown. 1995. Banana diseases. SAS Institute Inc. 1989. SAS/STAT user’s guide, ver- assess nutrient status. Fruits 35: 19-23. Pp. 317-381 in Bananas and plantains (S. Gowen, sion 6, 4th edition, volume 1. Cary, N.C.: SAS ed.). World crop series. Chapman & Hall. London. Institute Inc. Guy Blomme* and Abdou Tenkouano work at the Marler T.E. & C. Stushnoff. 1999. Root, stem, and Satyanarayana M. 1986. Effect of number of func- Crop Improvement Division, International Institute of fruit growth of ‘Tainung 1’ papaya plants following tional leaves on growth and yield of ‘Dwarf Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o L.W. Lambourn & Co., defoliation (abstract). HortScience 34(3): 488-489 Cavendish’ banana (AAA). Newsletter Int. Group Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, Martinez Garnica A. 1984. Effecto del número de Hortic. Physiol. Banana 9: 34-36. England and Rony Swennen at the Laboratory of hojas sobre la producción de plátano en el trópico Shanmugavelu K.G., K. Aravindakshan & Tropical Crop Improvement, Catholic University of húmedo Colombiano. Revista ICA 19: 357-359. S. Sathiamoorthy. 1992. Banana Taxonomy, Leuven (K.U.Leuven), Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, 3001 Myers S.C. & D.C. Ferree. 1983. Influence of summer Breeding and Production Technology. 1st ed., Heverlee, Belgium. pruning and tree orientation on net photosynthe- Metropolitan Book Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi- * Presently working as Associate Scientist at the INIBAP sis, transpiration, shoot growth, and dry weight 110002, India. pp. 266-293. Office for eastern and southern Africa

Fruit physiology Climatic effects

The effect of hail and wind on the development and quality of the fruits of Dominico hartón and FHIA-21 plantain

C.R. Parra, L.M. Lara Sarmiento, serious damage to crops. One such cli- wind on Dominico hartón and FHIA-21 G. Cayón Salinas matic event on 20 March 1998 caused hybrid plants at three stages of develop- and G. Giraldo Giraldo losses of more than US$ 6 million for ment and the gauging of the conse- plantain growers in the Quindío adminis- quences for the physicochemical proper- trative department. One of the most com- ties of plantain. rowth, development and agricul- mon types of damage in all plantain pro- tural production are the result of ducing regions is the tearing of leaf Material and methods Gclose interactions between the cli- laminae by wind. However, if this does The study was performed at the El matic factors in the production zone and not cause abscission and a loss of active Agrado research centre in the the genotype of the species cultivated. leaf area, the plant vegetative and pro- Montenegro municipal area (Quindío) at However, the production cycle of the duction cycle is satisfactory. 4°28’N and 75°49’W, an altitude of plants is affected if, during certain pre- Observations of coffee crops after a 1320 m, average annual temperature cise stages of cultivation, one of these fac- gale concern the most visible effects of 21°C, relative humidity 80% and average tors reaches proportions exceeding their the impact of hailstones, with wounding annual precipitation 1985 mm. These tolerance (Cayón et al. 1998a). More and bark stripping of branches, the agroecological conditions are those of specifically, modification of the aerial removal, perforation and tearing of leaf very humid tropical forest. The soil of the parts of the plants by leaf removal or laminae, laceration and wounding of experimental plot was loamy-sandy with uncontrollable physical damage affects berries, which turn an almost black dark pH 6.2 and contained 2.9% organic mat- the usual conditions of the plant and dis- green colour. This type of damage ter. A very local storm occurred on 20 turbs leaf area growth and fruiting appears to be all the more serious when March 1998 in the Montenegro municipal (Decoteau 1990). the coffee berries are soft (Valencia and area in which the El Agrado research sta- The central coffee zone of Colombia is Arcila 1976). tion is located, with heavy rain (34 mm), often exposed to high winds accompa- The aim of this study is the evaluation strong wind (>100 km.h-1) and hail, with- nied by heavy rainfall and hail, causing of the impact of a hailstorm with strong out affecting neighbouring areas.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 13 Three days later, all the plots of damaged Dominico hartón and FHIA-21 were inspected to select plants that had suf- fered the gale at different stages in their production cycle. Plants at the following stages were identified and marked: 1) starting of flowering; 2) 15th day after flowering (15 DAF) and 3) between 30 and 45 DAF. The control plants (not affected by the phenomenon) were selected and marked in plots close to the experimental centre that had not suf- fered strong wind or hail. A completely randomized design was used with four treatments (stages of development), three repetitions and six plants per repetition. The weight, number of hands and fingers of the bunches harvested when the A fruits were physiologically ripe (120 DAF) were recorded. Two fruits were taken from each of hands 1, 3 and 5 and the B weight, external length and circumference were noted. Fruits with necrotic spots on peel and pulp were observed on each bunch. The spots were excised with a scalpel and weighed to calculate the percentage of necrotic pulp and peel per fruit. The fruits were peeled to measure pulp and peel weight. The texture of fresh pulp was measured with a penetrometer, the pH was measured by titration and sol- uble solids were determined by refrac- tometry. Several fruits were then sliced crosswise and placed in a sodium metabisulphite solution 0.5% to prevent enzymatic browning. Once dried in a fan oven at 80°C for 24 hours, these samples were reduced to powder and the moisture, mineral content (ash), fibre, starch (enzymatic hydrolysis) and total sugars were analyzed (Antrone method). The data obtained were compared using Tukey’s analysis of variance method (P<0.05) using the MSTAT-C programme (Michigan State University).

Results and discussion The strong wind caused the toppling of many plants by fissuring of the pseudostem and uprooting. It also caused the tearing and removal of whole leaf lamina sections (Figure 1A). Hailstones hit the pseudostem, leaves, inflorescences and bunches hard (Figure 1B) causing damage that was initially in the form of creased brown chlorotic points that soon turned dark brown or black (Figure 1C). Peel necrotic areas spread to the fruits, thus affecting their quality. The direct effect of hailstorm impact C on the fruits of bunches in course of formation was different according to the

Figure 1. Damage to the plantation caused by wind (A) and by the impact of hailstones to bunches, development stage. The position of the pseudostems (B) and leaves (C). inflorescence prevented hailstorm

14 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 impact in plants at the flowering initia- Table 1. The effect of wind and hail on bunches of the clone Dominico hartón and tion stage. Impacts were slight at the the hybrid FHIA-21. 15 DAF stage thanks to the partial protec- Development Average bunch Number Average Average Average tion of the bunch by the bract, whereas stage weight (kg) of fruits fruit weight (g) fruit length (cm) fruit girth (cm) the fruits of plants at the 30-45 DAF stage Dominico hartón were easily hit because the bunches were Initiation of flowering 11.8 c 49 202.7 b 28.6 14.4 c more exposed. The plants that remained 15 DAF 12.1 c 45 202.1 b 29.2 14.2 c standing after the gale still had a few torn 30-45 DAF 18.8 a 55 304.8 a 29.8 16.1 a leaves that remained functional through- Control 17.0 b 49 309.1 a 32.1 15.1 b out the bunch maturation period. C.V. (%) 8.3 11.1 13.3 8.0 1.2 However, at harvesting, the plants in the F (stages) * n.s. * n.s. * experimental plot had no useful green FHIA-21 leaves and those that remained were bro- Initiation of flowering 17.2 97 167 24.8 13.09 ken, torn and withered by the gale. 15 DAF 19.5 119 170 26.7 13.40 The effects of hailstones and wind on 30-45 DAF 17.6 95 170.61 25.3 12.53 the bunch weight of Dominico hartón and Control 22.4 104 200 22.5 14.00 FHIA-21 are shown in Table 1. Affected C.V. (%) 14.36 17.4 20.57 7.6 8.30 Dominico hartón plants in the initial F (stages) n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. phase of flowering (before shooting of the * F test significant (P< 0.05) n.s. F test not significant inflorescence) and 15 days after flower- Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s test (P< 0.05) ing (15 DAF) gave bunches with significantly lower weights than the plants that were at the 30-45 DAF stage and than plants. In fact, the most serious damage decrease in their size and in pulp fresh those of the control plants. The FHIA-21 caused by wind and hail concerned the weight. The phenomenon had less effect plants affected at the three development leaves responsible for the photosynthetic on fruit pulp affected at a more advanced stages described gave bunches of similar process of carbohydrate production and plant development stage (35-40 DAF) and or slightly lower weight than the controls translocation to the fruits. It is probable on that of the control plants (Table 2). although statistical analysis did not that this damage causes an increase in Peel thickness and fresh weight in reveal significant differences between the respiration of the last leaves emitted Dominico hartón were changed by the weights. This shows that the development by the plant, decreasing the concentra- gale in a similar manner to the pulp, that process of Dominico hartón fruits is prob- tion of the photosynthesised components is to say less in fruits exposed at early ably closely dependent on leaf activities for fruit maturation carried by the elabo- stages of bunch development. Peel thick- during the initial periods. Thus, any fac- rated sap. This suggests that the physio- ness in FHIA-21 did not vary according to tor that causes irreversible damage to a logical and biochemical processes that the moment in the cycle at which the leaf lamina has a negative effect on determine fruit growth and development damage occurred. However, a slight bunch growth because of the loss of pho- are less susceptible to physical attacks increase in peel weight was observed in tosynthetic area during this critical when these occur at advanced stages in fruits exposed at the start of inflores- period. These results confirm previous the production cycle. cence shooting. This suggests that the work that had shown that the develop- Fruit length did not change. The aver- damage to leaves during floral initiation ment and maturation of Dominico hartón age values are within the classic range probably caused preferential distribution fruits depend basically on the activity of for Dominico hartón and FHIA-21. A sig- of photosynthesised substances to the the functional leaves present during the nificant decrease in fruit girth was noted peel, disturbing normal fruit filling. appearance of the inflorescence (Arcila in Dominico hartón fruits affected dur- The fact that forming fruits were more et al. 1995, Cayón et al. 1995). ing floral initiation and at the 15 DAF affected whereas they are more protected The number of fruits in the bunch stage in comparison with that of plants by the flower bracts reveals the great remained within the range of expected affected at the 30-45 DAF stage and of physiological importance of the func- characteristics of Dominico hartón and the control plants. The girth of FHIA-21 tional leaves present at flowering because FHIA-21 since physical damage caused fruits was not significantly decreased of their essential role in biomass accumu- by the phenomenon did not affect this after the gale although the fruits of the lation in the fruits. Indeed, the fruit pulp component determined earlier during control plants were slightly larger. This formation process is strongly compro- the floral differentiation phase coincides with the observations above mised when physical damage to leaves (Belalcázar et al. 1991). The gale preju- concerning average fruit weight. Fruit occurs during the first stages of fruit diced the development of Dominico external length and girth are directly development. The consequences are not hartón plants. The damage was most related to weight and are therefore good as serious at later stages of development. severe in the bunches hit when they were development indicators. A study per- The effects of the gale on the chemical in the first stages of formation (initiation formed by Cayón et al. (1995) showed composition of fruit pulp are shown in of flowering and 15 DAF), where average that the numbers of hands and fingers Table 3. Pulp mineral content repre- fruit weights were significantly lower per bunch were not affected by deleafing sented by the ash content was higher in than those of plants damaged at the 30- whereas fruit length and size decreased the control plants unaffected by the phe- 45 DAF stage and the controls. This on an individual basis when deleafing nomenon in both Dominico hartón and behaviour was obviously identical for the was severe. FHIA-21. The level falls as the damage bunch weight. The average weight of The effect of wind and hail on both occurs at an increasingly early stage. The fruits in FHIA-21 was not statistically types of plant material at the beginning Dominico hartón fruits that reached changed by the gale although heavier of flowering or at the recently formed maturity under normal conditions in the fruits (200 g) were noticed on the control fruit stage (15 DAF) caused a significant zone studied had higher ash contents

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 15 Table 2. The effects of wind and hail on the pulp and peel of Dominico hartón and decrease in the starch content was noted FHIA-21 fruits. in FHIA-21 fruits at the 15 DAF and 30- 45 DAF stages. The starch concentration Development stage Pulp Peel was thus not markedly changed, in spite Average Average Average Average of peel damage. It would appear that thickness (cm) fresh weight(g) thickness (cm) fresh weight (g) most of the sucrose required for starch Dominico hartón synthesis during fruit formation is from Initiation of flowering 11.4 b 126.1 c 0.38 c 76.6 b leaf photosynthesis, with very little from 15 DAF 11.0 c 121.1 c 0.38 c 81.0 b the peel. According to Simmonds (1973) 30-45 DAF 12.5 a 186.2 b 0.41 b 118.6 a and Burdon et al. (1993), this is because Control 12.3 a 191.4 a 0.44 a 117.7 a the photosynthetic activity of plantain C.V. (%) 2.0 5.9 5.0 8.6 leaves is much higher than that of form- F (Stages) * * * * ing fruits because stomata density is FHIA-21 Initiation of flowering 7.2 85.7 c 3.7 81.3 a much lower in the latter. 15 DAF 10.1 101.1 b 4.1 68.9 c The damage to FHIA-21 plants did not 30-45 DAF 10.0 95.7 b 3.8 62.2 c significantly increase the total sugars Control 11.1 122.4 a 4.0 77.6 b concentration in the pulp of fruits har- C.V. (%) 7.9 7.9 7.1 4.9 vested at physiological maturity. No F (Stages) n.s. * n.s. * marked change in the total sugars con- * F test significant (P< 0.05) tent was observed in Dominico hartón n.s. F test not significant plants affected at early development Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s test (P< 0.05) stages (flower initiation and 15 DAF) in contrast with fruits at the 30-45 DAF stage in which the levels displayed a Table 3. The effects of the impact of wind and hail on the chemical composition of marked increase (5.1%). Such a figure is the pulp of fruits of Dominico hartón and FHIA-21. probably a direct result of the effect of Development stage Average ash Average starch Average total hailstones on the fruits, which are more content (%) content (%) sugars content (%) exposed at this stage. Indeed, the Dominico hartón necrotic areas that formed may have Initiation of flowering 1.3 c 83.3 1.2 b caused an increase in fruit respiration 15 DAF 1.4 b 82.7 1.6 b and hence premature ethylene produc- 30-45 DAF 1.4 b 80.4 5.1 a tion resulting in the breaking down of Control 1.7 a 80.0 1.4 b starch into sugars. This did not take C.V. (%) 4.9 2.7 42.0 place at earlier stages because the F (stages) * n.s. * bunch was protected by the inflores- FHIA-21 cence bracts. This is in agreement with a Initiation of flowering 1.5 b 83.0 a 1.6 study on Dominico hartón plants sub- 15 DAF 1.4 c 80.0 b 1.4 jected to severe deleafing and in which 30-45 DAF 1.3 c 82.3 b 1.6 higher total sugars levels were observed, Control 1.8 a 84.0 a 1.3 indicating that drastic defoliation C.V. (%) 6.0 1.4 16.9 causes an increase in the sugar synthe- F (Stages) * * n.s. sis process or that the sugars were * F test significant (P<0.05) n.s. F test not significant translocated from the peel to the fruit Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to Tukey’s test (P< 0.05) pulp (Cayón et al. 1998b). Evaluation of the physical damage caused to Dominico hartón and FHIA-21 bunches by the impact of hailstones is Table 4. Damage caused by hailstone impact at two stages in the development of bunches of Dominico hartón and FHIA-21. shown in Table 4. The bunches of both cultivars at the 30-45 DAF stage displayed a Dominico hartón FHIA-21 higher percentage of fruits with necrotic Damage caused by hailstones 15 DAF 30-45 DAF 15 DAF 30-45 DAF spots since they were more exposed to Fruits with necrotic spots (%) 96 100 79 81 hailstone impact than the less developed Necrotic peel:fruit weight (g) 1.13 0.91 1.38 0.74 fruits (15 DAF) that were sheltered by the Necrotic peel:fruit (%) 1.1 0.6 1.4 0.9 bracts of the inflorescence. The weight Necrotic pulp:fruit weight (g) 0.72 1.5 0.13 0.16 and percentage of necrotic peel were Necrotic pulp:fruit (%) 1.1 1.6 0.5 0.3 lower in the fruits affected at the most advanced stage (30-45 DAF) while the weight and percentage of necrotic peel increased, indicating that the initial than those found in the present study damage occurs between flower initiation necrotic spots on fruit peel spread rapidly (Belalcázar et al. 1991, Morales et al. and the 45 DAF stage. inward, damaging the fruit pulp. It should 1998). This may show that damage to The starch concentration in the pulp of be underlined that although FHIA-21 had leaves, pseudostem and bunches may be Dominico hartón fruits did not decrease fewer fruits, the percentage of fruits with critical for the normal translocation of after damage to the plants during the var- necrotic spotting was lower for the two minerals to forming fruits when such ious stages of development. A small stages considered. This can be attributed

16 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 to the more voluminous and compact plátano Dominico hartón (Musa AAB Simmonds). América Tropical (L. Hidalgo Arizaga, ed.). CONA- FHIA-21 bunches that protect the inner- Pp. 90-93 in Mejoramiento de la producción del BAN, Guayaquil, Equateur. most fruits. cultivo del plátano. Segundo informe técnico Decoteau D.R. 1990. Tomato leaf development and 1984-1994. Región 9. ICA, COMITECAFE Quindío, distribution as influenced by leaf removal and Conclusions CIID, CORPOICA, INIBAP, INPOFOS. Armenia, decapitation. HortScience 25: 681-684. Dominico hartón and FHIA-21 fruits Colombia. Morales H., S. Belalcázar & G. Cayón. 1998. Efecto de were most seriously damaged when wind Belalcázar S., J. Valencia & E. Lozada. 1991. La la época de cosecha sobre la composición físico- and hail affected plants at the flower ini- planta y el fruto. Pp. 43-89 in El cultivo del plá- química de los frutos en cuatro clones comerciales tiation and 15 days after flowering stages. tano en el trópico (S. Belalcázar, ed.). ICA, INI- de musáceas. Pp. 237-246 in Seminario interna- Hail damage to Dominico hartón and BAP, CIID, COMITECAFE Quindío. Feriva, cional sobre producción de plátano. Memorias (M. FHIA-21 fruits affected quality because of Colombia. Giraldo, S. Belalcázar, G. Cayón & R. Botero, eds). the appearance of necrotic spotting of Burdon J.N., K.G. Moore & H. Wainwright. 1993. The CORPOICA, Universidad del Quindío, the peel; this necrosis then spread to the peel of plantain and cooking banana fruits. Ann. COMITECAFÉ Quindío, SENA. Armenia, pulp of the plantain. Appl. Biol. 123 (2): 391-402. Colombia. The impact of hailstones on Dominico Cayón G., J.E. Lozada & S. Belalcázar. 1995. Simmonds N.W. 1973. Los plátanos. Blume, hartón and FHIA-21 plantain caused a Contribución fisiológica de las hojas funcionales Barcelone. 539pp. slight decrease in the mineral (ash) con- del plátano (Musa AAB Simmonds) durante el Valencia G. & J. Arcila. 1976. Daños por granizo en tent of fruit pulp. llenado del racimo. Pp. 725-739 in ACORBAT. cafetales. Avances Técnicos No. 53. CENICAFE, A significant increase in the total sug- Memorias XI Reunión de la Asociación para la Colombia. 2pp. ars content of the pulp of Dominico Cooperación en Investigaciones de Banano en el hartón fruits affected at an advanced Caribe y en América Tropical (V. Morales Soto, stage of development (30-45 DAF) was ed.). ACORBAT, San José, Costa Rica. observed. Cayón G., S. Belalcázar & J.E. Lozada. 1998a. Ecofisiología del plátano (Musa AAB Simmonds). Acknowledgements Pp. 221-236 in Seminario internacional sobre pro- The authors thank Corporación ducción de plátano. Memorias (M. Giraldo, S. Colombiana de Investigación Agro- Belalcázar, G. Cayón & R. Botero, eds). COR- pecuaria CORPOICA and Universidad POICA, Universidad del Quindío, COMITECAFÉ del Quindío for their technical and finan- Quindío, SENA. Armenia, Colombia. cial support and Mrs Gloria Inés López, Cayón G., M.I. Arcila, S. Belalcázar & L.D. Celis. secretary, for her patient and accurate 1998b. Efecto de la remoción de hojas en floración transcription work. ■ sobre la partición de materia seca, carbohidratos Charli Rose Parra, Luz Mery Lara Sarmiento and y proteína en el racimo del plátano Dominico Germán Giraldo Giraldo work at Universidad del Quindío, apartado aéreo 360, Tel. (576) 7460100; References hartón (Musa AAB Simmonds). Pp. 153-164 in Gerardo Cayón Salinas at Corporación Colombiana Arcila M.I., S. Belalcázar, J.A. Valencia & G. Cayón. ACORBAT. Memorias XIII Reunión de la de Investigación Agropecuaria, CORPOICA, apartado 1995. Influencia del número de hojas en post-flo- Asociación para la Cooperación en aéreo 1807. Tel. (576) 7493498. E-mail : ración sobre el llenado de los frutos del clon de Investigaciones de Banano en el Caribe y en [email protected]

Fruit physiology oxidative browning

Polyphenol oxidase activity and gene expression in the fruit of Goldfinger bananas (AAAB, FHIA-01)

P.S. Gooding, C. Bird was produced by a cross of a dwarf Lady of the brown discolouration of banana and S.P. Robinson Finger type (Dwarf Prata = Santa fruit during handling, storage and pro- Catarina Prata AAB ‘Pome’) with cessing (Mayer and Harel 1979, Vamos- SH-3142 which has some resistance to Vigyazo 1981, Vaughn et al. 1988, Walker anana is an important crop world- burrowing nematodes, Sigatoka leaf spot and Ferrar 1998). This problem is of con- wide and one of the most impor- diseases and Fusarium wilt (Rowe and siderable importance to the food industry Btant food sources in the developing Rosales 1993). Goldfinger is a strong as it affects nutritional quality and world (May et al. 1995). Annual produc- plant with good architecture, yielding a appearance, reduces consumer accept- tion of bananas and plantains is esti- large bunch size and fruit with good ability and therefore causes significant mated to be approximately 88 million flavour and postharvest green life. The economic impact, both to primary pro- tonnes (FAO 1999), making them the diced fruit shows less oxidation and ducers and the food processing industry largest food crop in the world after the browning than many commercial culti- (Bachem et al. 1994). The damage cereals (INIBAP 1997). vars (Rowe and Rosales 1993, Smith caused by harvesting and transport can Variety SH-3481 (FHIA-01) was intro- et al. 1998). make the fruit unfit for sale and the use duced into Australia from the breeding The oxidation of phenolic substrates by of banana in part processed fresh foods programme in Honduras (Daniells et al. the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO; EC like fruit salad and in processed foods, 1995). Popularly known as Goldfinger, it 1.10.3.2) is thought to be the major cause such as cakes and gateaux, could become

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 17 more viable if the fruit itself remained pale yellow and attractive to the consumer after being peeled and sliced. Enzymatic browning is caused by the production of complex polyphenolics, a reaction catalyzed predominantly by PPO, which can oxidize a wide range of phenolic substrates to produce reactive quinones (Vamos-Vigyazo 1981, Walker and Ferrar 1998). These o-quinones can polymerize and covalently bind to nucleophilic aminoacids to produce dark brown or black pigments in postharvest fruits and vegetables (Mayer and Harel 1979, Mayer and Harel 1991). PPO enzymes which are encoded by nuclear genes (Lax et al. 1984) are localized in the plastid, where they are associated with the internal thylakoid membranes (Vaughn et al. 1988) and remain physi- cally separated from their phenolic substrates found in the vacuole (Robinson and Dry 1992). Therefore, the browning reaction is usually only initiated upon tissue damage, where a loss of cellular com- partmentation allows PPO and phenolic substrates to mix (Vamos-Vigyazo 1981, Walker and Ferrar 1998). Isoforms of banana PPO have been par- tially purified from pulp, peel and buds and characterized with respect to their substrate specificities, optimum pH, pI, Km and the effect of inhibitors (Montgomery and Sgarbieri 1975, Thomas and Janave 1986, Oba et al. 1992, Sojo et al. 1998). Between 9 and 14 isoenzymes have been reported from par- tially purified preparations of banana pulp separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing (Montgomery and Sgarbieri 1975, Thomas and Janave 1986) and 10 were found in peel (Montgomery and Sgarbieri 1975). Two isozymes were reported from extracts of banana buds separated by chromatography (Oba et al. 1992) but only one was reported in banana pulp purified using an aqueous two-phase system (Sojo et al. 1998). The multiplicity observed in the earlier reports may be caused by covalent modifications to the PPO enzyme during purification, as it reacted with (poly)phenols and tannins (Sojo et al. 1998). Using the most efficient enzyme purification system (Sojo et al. 1998) the pI value for banana PPO was 6.2, the pH optimum was around pH 5.5, and the Km was 0.57 mM in the presence of dopamine, the natural substrate of PPO in banana (Palmer 1963). Genes encoding PPO have been cloned Figure 1. PPO activity and fresh weight of Goldfinger fruit at different stages of development. and characterized from a wide range of A : Fresh weight gain of banana fruit through development from young inflorescence buds to full size plants including banana (Gooding et al. green fruit. B : PPO activity (units per gram fresh weight) of fruit samples through development. C : PPO activity (units per fruit) of fruit samples through development. Values are plotted as the mean 2001) and generally comprise multi-gene of three independent samples and bars represent standard errors of the mean. families (Cary et al. 1992, Newman et al.

18 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 1993, Boss et al. 1995, Thygesen et al. 1995). Interestingly, banana PPO con- tains a small (85 base pair) intron (Gooding et al. 2001), whereas all other PPO genes characterized to date (mostly from dicotyledonous plants) do not. In banana fruit PPO activity is highest in young immature tissues and decreases towards maturity (Gooding et al. 2001). It is known that Goldfinger fruit is more resistant to oxidative browning than other dessert varieties (Rowe and Rosales 1993, Smith et al. 1998), but no data on PPO activity and expression have been presented. Here we describe the expression of four previously characterized PPO cDNAs from banana cv. Williams (AAA group, Cavendish subgroup; Figure 2. Northern blots showing PPO gene expression in Goldfinger tissues. Each track represents 4 µg total RNA extracted from Goldfinger tissues, probed with either BPO1 (top row), BPO11 Gooding et al. 2001), as well as the rela- (second row), BPO34 (third row) or BPO35 (bottom row). Samples were taken from young tive PPO activity in Goldfinger fruit and inflorescences (A), a developmental series of pulp (BF-FF) and peel (BP-FP), flowers (FL), and inner other tissues compared to Williams. leaf roll (LR).

Materials and methods uptake of 1µmol of molecular oxygen per captoethanol and 1 ml of 20% SDS. After Plant material minute under these assay conditions. The vigorous mixing, the tube was incubated Banana fruit, cultivars ‘Goldfinger’ addition of SDS (0.1-1%) to the assay, at 65o C for 20 minutes, then 5 ml of 5 M (AAAB, FHIA-01) and ‘Williams’ (AAA) which activates PPO in some plants potassium acetate was added and the were obtained from Nambour, (Vaughn and Duke 1988), had no effect tube was centrifuged at 18 000 rpm for Queensland, Australia. Fruit was har- on PPO activity of banana samples so it 20 minutes. The supernatant was recov- vested at different stages, ranging from was not included in the standard assay. ered, 15 ml of cold propan-2-ol was added young flower buds to full-sized green fruit and the mixture was incubated at –20o C (stage A-F, Figure 1B-C and Figure 2). A Total RNA extraction for 20 minutes. After centrifugation at flower head was dissected before it The protocol was adapted from Chang et 18 000 rpm for 20 minutes, the super- opened and young flower bud material al . (1993) and was suitable for extract- natant was discarded, the pellet washed was dissected into petals, stamens and ing RNA from banana pulp, peel, flower, in 70% ethanol, air dried and resus- style, which were removed and called stem, leaf and root tissue. Approximately pended in 500 µl of water. flowers (FL). The remaining material, 3 g of powdered tissue was added to 15 ml which ultimately forms the fruit, was des- of extraction buffer (containing 2% CTAB, Northern blotting ignated stage A. A range of different sized 2% PVP, 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 25 mM Total RNA (4 µg) from samples at differ- fruit was collected from post-flowering EDTA, 2 M NaCl, 0.5 g l-1 spermidine ent developmental and ripening stages hands (stages B-F) and the pulp was sep- and 2% 2-mercaptoethanol) previously was separated on a 1.2% agarose gel con- arated from the peel. All tissues were cut warmed to 65o C. The mixture was taining 10% formaldehyde to maintain into small pieces, frozen in liquid nitro- extracted twice using chloroform:isoamy- denaturing conditions. The RNA was gen, ground to a fine powder in a coffee lalcohol and the RNA precipitated with transferred to Zeta-Probe membrane grinder and stored at –70oC. 2M lithium chloride. After centrifuga- (Bio-Rad) by overnight capillary transfer tion, the RNA pellet was resuspended in in 0.05 N NaOH. Membranes were prehy- PPO activity buffer containing 1 M NaCl, 0.5% SDS, bridized at 65o C for two hours in A modification of the procedure of 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 1 mM EDTA, hybridizing solution containing 0.25 M Robinson and Dry (1992) was used to extracted once with an equal volume of sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, 1 mM EDTA, determine PPO activity. Frozen tissue chloroform:isoamylalcohol and precipi- 7% SDS. Hybridization was performed samples were ground in a coffee grinder tated with ethanol. overnight at 65o C in fresh hybridising to a fine powder then approximately 0.1 g solution plus the [α-32P]dATP-labelled was homogenized with a glass Total DNA extraction probe. Hybridized membranes were incu- homogenizer in 2 ml of buffer containing Young banana leaves were harvested, bated four times at 65o C in a high strin- 100 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.0, 1% frozen in liquid nitrogen and ground to a gency wash solution containing 0.1 x SSC, Triton X-100, 5 mM ascorbic acid. An fine powder. To 4 g of material, 2 ml of 0.1% SDS for 15 minutes, before being aliquot of the whole homogenate was CTAB buffer (containing 100 mM Tris- autoradiographed for 16-72 hours at –80o used to determine PPO activity in an oxy- HCl, pH 8.0, 20 mM EDTA, pH 8.0, 2% C using X-OMAT film (Kodak) with inten- gen electrode. The initial rate of oxygen CTAB, 1.4 M NaCl, 4% PVP-40, 0.1% ascor- sifying screens. uptake was measured at 25o C, in 50 mM bic acid, 0.1% diethyldithiocarbamic acid sodium phosphate, pH 7.0. The reaction and 2% 2-mercaptoethanol) was added to Southern blotting was started by the addition of 4-methyl make a smooth paste. The paste was Total genomic DNA (5 µg) was digested catechol to a final concentration of added to a centrifuge tube containing with appropriate restriction enzymes or 2.5 mM, with one unit of enzyme activity 13 ml of 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 50 mM left uncut, separated on a 1.0% (w/v) defined as that which resulted in the EDTA, pH 8.0, 100 mM NaCl, 2% 2-mer- agarose Tris-borate gel at 2.4 V cm-1 for

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 19 16 hours as previously described up 40% of the total fresh weight of the full peak of signal occurring in track CF taken (Gooding et al . 1999) and transferred to size green fruit (stage F; Figure 1A). from 30 g fruit. Some BPO1 message was Zeta-Probe membrane (Bio-Rad) by On a gram per fresh weight basis, PPO also detected in young inflorescence tis- overnight capillary blotting in 0.4 N activity in pulp was considerably lower sue (Figure 2, track A) and in peel from NaOH. Membranes were prehybridized, than in peel and decreased as fruit up to 30 g fruit (Figure 2, tracks BP and hybridized, washed and examined by weight increased from about 40 U/g F.W. CP). There was no detectable expression autoradiography as described above. at stage B to 15 U/g F.W. at stage F (Figure of BPO11, BPO34 or BPO35 in any of the 1B). In peel, PPO activity rose to a peak developing fruit samples, nor in the flow- Results of almost 150 U/g F.W. at stage C, then ers and leaf roll (Figure 2), even at longer Tissue samples were collected from decreased dramatically to less than half exposures (data not shown). Goldfinger fruit at six different develop- of this value at stages D-F (Figure 1B). mental stages designated A (young inflo- Total activity per gram fresh weight in Southern analysis of genomic DNA rescence, preflowering), B (15 g fruit), Goldfinger fruit, calculated by determin- from Goldfinger C (30 g fruit), D (60 g fruit), E (90 g fruit) ing the total activity in pulp and peel and To compare the genomic organization and F (full size green fruit; 120 g) as well dividing by total fruit weight, mirrored and copy number of PPO genes in the two as from flowers and young leaf roll mater- the curve of the peel sample, which con- cultivars, genomic DNA was extracted ial. Samples were assayed for PPO activ- tributed the majority of PPO activity from young leaf roll tissue from both ity and used for total RNA extraction. (Figure 1B). Goldfinger and Williams (AAA group, PPO activity was also calculated on a Cavendish subgroup), digested with suit- PPO activity in Goldfinger and per fruit basis by multiplying the unit per able restriction enzymes or left undi- Williams tissues gram value with the weight of the pulp gested. The genomic DNA was run on For PPO activity measurements, samples and peel at each developmental stage agarose gels, blotted and probed with from three different fruits, flowers and (Figure 1C). These data give a clear indi- each of the four banana PPO clones leaf rolls were taken from Goldfinger and cation of when during development the (Figure 3). Southern analysis revealed Williams, ground up and assayed individ- PPO enzyme is being actively synthesized the presence of multiple copies of BPO1 , ually and the mean PPO activity calcu- and an insight into the total amount of BPO11 , BPO34 and BPO35 within the lated (Table 1). In both cultivars the PPO PPO protein present in the fruit. PPO genome of both Goldfinger and Williams activity was highest in flowers and lowest activity in pulp increased slowly as fruit (Figure 3). Though the banding patterns in mature fruit. In all tissues assayed the size increased, from 120 units per fruit at were very similar between the two vari- PPO activity in Goldfinger was signifi- stage B to 750 units per fruit at stage F eties, restriction length fragment poly- cantly lower than in Williams (Table 1). (Figure 1C). In the peel samples however, morphisms (RFLPs) were detected, Goldfinger fruit samples were analyzed PPO activity increased considerably from notably for BPO1 and BPO34 when at six stages through fruit development 1500 units per fruit at stage B to around digested with EcoRI and HindIII, for from young inflorescence buds to full size 3500 units per fruit at stage C and it BPO35 when restricted with BamHI and green fruit. It should be noted that the remained at this level through the rest of EcoRI and for BPO11 cut with HindIII fruit development (Figure 1C). Again, (Figure 3). Table 1. Comparison of PPO activity due to the higher PPO activity in the peel (units per gram fresh weight) in tissue on a fresh weight basis, the graph Discussion flowers, young leaf roll, preflowering of total activity closely followed that of It has been reported that PPO activity is inflorescence, immature fruit and mature fruit from banana cv. the peel (Figure 1C). high in developing tissues and in meris- Goldfinger and cv. Williams. Mean tematic tissues, but decreases as cells values of PPO activity were calculated PPO gene expression in Goldfinger mature (Cary et al. 1992, Shahar et al. from three separate samples of each tissues 1992, Hunt et al. 1993, Boss et al. 1995, tissue and are given + standard error. Four different partial length PPO clones Gooding et al. 2001). In banana (cv. of approximately 900 base pairs were pre- Williams), PPO activity was found to be Goldfinger Williams viously cloned from banana (cv. Williams) highest in flowers, young leaf roll and in Flowers 259 + 32 502 + 81 and characterized (Gooding et al. 2001). young fruit samples (Gooding et al. Young leaf roll 108 + 11 507 + 85 These four PPO clones were used as mol- 2001). In the Goldfinger tissues assayed, Young 107 + 14 166 + 13 inflorescence (stage A) ecular probes against total RNA PPO activity was also highest in flowers, Immature 122 + 11 287 + 9 extracted from Goldfinger flowers, young young unexpanded leaf roll and young fruit (30-40 g) leaf rolls and fruit at different develop- peel (Table 1 and Figure 1B). However, Mature fruit 35 + 3 63 + 1 mental stages. Total RNA extracted from Goldfinger tissues were conspicuously flowers, inner leaf rolls and pulp and peel lower in PPO than the corresponding samples at each developmental stage was Williams samples. PPO activities in probed with each of the four PPO cDNAs Williams flowers and young leaf roll were young inflorescence sample was a mix- (BPO1, BPO11, BPO34 and BPO35; approximately 500 U/g F.W. (Gooding et ture of pulp and peel, as the tissues were Gooding et al. 2001). The specific activity al. 2001) compared to around 250 and not clearly differentiated enough to be of each probe was measured and found to 100 U/g F.W. respectively in Goldfinger adequately separated at this stage. The be of the same order of magnitude (Table 1). In fruit tissues, a similar lower mean fresh weight of young inflorescence (around 2x105 cpm) and autoradiograph level of PPO activity was observed in buds (stage A) was 4.3 g and fruit weight exposures were identical. BPO1 was Goldfinger compared to Williams. Pulp increased to around 120 g when full size expressed in flowers and the inner leaf PPO activity in Goldfinger was less than but still green (stage F). The pulp made roll (Figure 2, tracks FL and LR) and in half that of Williams at equivalent devel- up less than 20% of the total fresh weight pulp samples taken from fruit up to 60 g opmental stages, ranging from about at stage B but increased steadily, making (Figure 2, tracks BF, CF and DF) with the 40 U/g F.W. in young pulp to 20 U/g F.W.

20 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 in full size Goldfinger pulp (Figure 1B) compared to 100 U/g F.W. to 50 U/g F.W. in the pulp of Williams fruit at equivalent developmental stages (Gooding et al. 2001). In peel samples the difference in PPO activity between Goldfinger and Williams was even more dramatic. PPO activity in Goldfinger peel ranged from 150 U/g F.W. to 50 U/g F.W. through the experimental series (Figure 1B) whereas in Williams peel PPO activity decreased from 400 U/g F.W. to 100 U/g F.W. over similar developmental stages (Gooding et al. 2001). When total RNA from Goldfinger tissue samples was probed with the four different banana PPO sequences (BPO1, BPO11, BPO34 and BPO35; Gooding et al. 2001), only BPO1 showed detectable levels of expression. Expression was detected in flower and inner leaf roll tissue, in the young inflorescence, in pulp of fruit up to 60 g and also in peel from fruit up to 30 g (Figure 2). This pattern of temporal expression is very similar to our previous results with Williams fruit, where BPO1 was the most highly expressed of the four banana PPO clones (Gooding et al. 2001). Another common feature among these data sets is the apparent mismatch between PPO activity and PPO expression in the fruit. In both banana varieties, enzyme activities were apprecia- bly higher in peel than pulp yet this was not reflected by the levels of PPO mes- Figure 3. Southern blots showing presence of PPO genes in the genome of Goldfinger and Williams banana varieties. Each track represents 5 µg total genomic DNA extracted from either Goldfinger or sage in the two tissues. The high stabil- Williams tissues, digested with either BamHI (track B), EcoRI (track E), HindIII (track H) or left uncut ity of PPO protein, as has been reported (track U) and probed with either BPO1 (top left), BPO11 (top right), BPO34 (bottom left) or BPO35 in other plants (Hunt et al. 1993; Dry (bottom right). and Robinson 1994, Boss et al. 1995, Bucheli et al. 1996, Mazzafera and Robinson 2000) has been proposed to browning is a desired characteristic dation reaction is reached, which may not explain these differences and it is possi- (Rowe and Rosales 1993, Smith et al. occur due to insufficient time or to the ble that in banana peel and other tis- 1998). Our results show that in gradual inhibition of PPO activity by the sues, expression and synthesis of PPO Goldfinger fruit as well as flowers and oxidation reaction itself. The observation may occur very early in development young leaf roll, PPO is markedly reduced that a 50% reduction in PPO activity in prior to stages sampled in these experi- compared to Williams, but that the same the pulp of Goldfinger is sufficient to sig- ments (Gooding et al. 2001). genes are present in both varieties. nificantly decrease browning suggests When genomic DNA from both Presumably the genes are not so tran- that reducing PPO is a suitable strategy Goldfinger and Williams was analyzed by scriptionally active in Goldfinger com- to control browning. Bachem et al. Southern blotting, banding patterns pared to Williams or are not so efficiently (1994) demonstrated that genetically between the two banana varieties were translated into mature active protein. modified potatoes in which PPO activity very similar (Figure 3). Minor differences The lower PPO activity in Goldfinger was decreased by more than 90% exhib- in the patterns of bands were observed would be expected to slow the rate of ited greatly reduced browning. This sug- when DNA was digested with particular browning of the fruit compared to gests that a similar strategy may be effec- restriction enzymes, probably as a result Williams and this was observed. It could tive in bananas. Experiments aimed at of RFLPs, but the presence of extra bands be argued that the extent of browning genetically modifying commercial in all the tracks in one variety was not would ultimately be the same in the two banana cultivars to down regulate PPO seen. Therefore, it is unlikely that copy varieties, determined by the level of phe- activity are now in progress at Syngenta. number of the PPO genes in the two vari- nolic substrates in the tissue. Provided eties is different. This is perhaps surpris- the enzyme remained active, it would Acknowledgements ing given that Williams is triploid (AAA) eventually oxidize all of the phenolics and Many thanks are due to Karin Sefton for but Goldfinger is tetraploid (AAAB). with lower enzyme activity in Goldfinger her assistance with the processing and It has been reported that Goldfinger fruit, it would just take longer to reach assaying of all of the fruit samples. The fruit is less susceptible to oxidation and the end point of the reaction. However, authors are also indebted to Mike Smith that the fruit is a good choice if reduced this assumes that the end point of the oxi- at QDPI for providing Goldfinger fruit

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 21 samples at many different developmental INIBAP. 1997. Annual Report. International Network Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring stages and for helpful dialogue through- for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain, Harbor, NY. out this project. ■ Montpellier, France. Shahar T., N. Hennig, T. Guttinger, D. Hareven Lax A.R., K.C. Vaughn & G.E. Templeton. 1984. & E. Lifschitz. 1992. The tomato 66.3-kD polyphe- References Nuclear inheritance of polyphenol oxidase in nol oxidase gene: molecular identification and Bachem C.W.B, G.J. Speckmann, P.C.G. van der Nicotiana . J. Hered. 75: 285-287. developmental expression. Plant Cell 4: 135-147. Linde, F.T.M. Verheggen, M.D. Hunt, J.C. Steffens May G.D., R. Afza, H.S. Mason, A. Wiecko, F.J. Novak Smith M.K., S.D. Hamill & P.W. Langdon. 1998. & M. Zabeau. 1994. Antisense expression of & C.J. Arntzen. 1995. Generation of transgenic Selection of new banana varieties for the cool sub- polyphenol oxidase genes inhibits enzymatic banana (Musa acuminata ) plants via tropics in Australia. Acta Hort. 490: 49-56. browning in potato tubers. Bio/Tech 12: Agrobacterium -mediated transformation. Sojo M.M., E. Nunez-Delicado, F. Garcia-Carmona & 1101-1105. Bio/Tech 13: 486-492. A. Sanchez-Ferrer. 1998. Partial purification of a Boss P.K., R.C. Gardner, B.J. Janssen & G.S. Ross. Mayer A.M. & E. Harel. 1979. Polyphenol oxidases in banana polyphenol oxidase using Triton X-114 and 1995. An apple polyphenol oxidase cDNA is up- plants. Phytochemistry 18: 193-215. PEG 8000 for removal of polyphenols. J. Agric. regulated in wounded tissues. Plant Mol. Biol. Mayer A.M. & E. Harel. 1991. Polyphenol oxidases Food Chem. 46: 4924-4930. 27: 429-433. and their significance in fruit and vegetables. Pp. Thomas R. & M.T. Janave. 1986. Isoelectric focusing Bucheli C.S., I.B. Dry & S.P. Robinson. 1996. Isolation 373-398 in Food Enzymology (P.F. Fox, ed.). evidence for banana isoenzymes with mono and of a full-length cDNA encoding polyphenol oxidase Elsevier Science Publishers, New York. diphenolase activity. Journal of Food Science from sugarcane, a C4 grass. Plant Mol. Biol. Mazzafera P. & S.P. Robinson. 2000. Characterization 51: 384-387. 31: 1233-1238. of polyphenol oxidase in coffee. Phytochemistry Thygesen P.W., I.B. Dry & S.P. Robinson. 1995. Cary J.W., A.R. Lax & W.H. Flurkey. 1992. Cloning and 55: 285-296. Polyphenol oxidase in potato. Plant Physiol. 109: characterization of cDNAs coding for Vicia faba Montgomery N.W. & V.C. Sgarbieri. 1975. Isoenzymes 525-531. polyphenol oxidase. Plant Mol. Biol. 20: 245-253. of banana polyphenol oxidase. Phytochemistry Vamos-Vigyazo L. 1981. Polyphenol oxidase and per- Chang S.J., J. Puryear & J. Cairney. 1993. A simple 14: 1245-1249. oxidase in fruits and vegetables. CRC Critical and efficient method for isolating RNA from pine Newman S.M., N.T. Eannetta, H. Yu, J.P. Prince, Reviews in Food Science 15: 49-127. trees. Plant Mol. Biol. Rep. 11: 113-116. M.C. de Vincente, S.D. Tanksley & J.C. Steffens. Van Gelder C.W.G., W.H. Flurkey & H.J. Wichers. Daniells J., K. Pegg, C. Searle, M. Smith, T. Whiley, 1993. Organization of the tomato polyphenol oxi- 1997. Sequence and structural features of plant and P. Langdon, N. Bryde & T. O’Hare. 1995. dase gene family. Plant Mol. Biol. 21: 1035-1051. fungal tyrosinases. Phytochemistry 45: 1309-1323. Goldfinger in Australia : a banana variety with Oba K., N. Iwatsuki, I. Uritani, A.M. Alvarez Vaughn K.C., A.R. Lax & S.O. Duke. 1988. Polyphenol potential. INFOMUSA 4(1):5-6. & V.V. Garcia. 1992. Partial purification and char- oxidase: the chloroplast oxidase with no estab- Dry I.B. & S.P. Robinson. 1994. Molecular cloning acterization of polyphenol oxidase isozymes lished function. Physiol. Plant. 72: 659-665. and characterization of grape berry polyphenol in banana bud. Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 56: Walker J.R.L. & P.H. Ferrar. 1998. Diphenol oxidases, oxidase. Plant Mol. Biol. 26:495-502. 1027-1030. enzyme-catalysed browning and plant disease FAO. 1999. Boletín trimestral de Estadística 12: 34. Palmer J.K. 1963. Banana polyphenol oxidase. resistance. Biotechnology and Genetic Gooding P.S., N.P. Batty, A.P. Goldsbrough Preparation and properties. Plant Physiol. 38: 508- Engineering Reviews 15: 457-498. & P.M. Mullineaux. 1999. Plant cell-directed con- 513. trol of virion sense gene expression in wheat dwarf Robinson S.P. & I.B. Dry. 1992. Broad bean leaf virus. Nucleic Acids Res. 27: 1709-1718. polyphenol oxidase is a 60-kilodalton protein sus- Gooding P.S., C. Bird & S.P. Robinson. 2001. ceptible to proteolytic cleavage. Plant Physiol. Molecular cloning and characterization of banana 99: 317-323. fruit polyphenol oxidase. Planta (in press ). Rowe P. & F. Rosales. 1993. Diploid breeding at FHIA Paul Gooding and Simon Robinson work at CSIRO – Plant Industry, PO Box 350, Glen Osmond, South Hunt M.D., N.T. Eannetta,Y. Haifeng, S.M. Newman and the development of Goldfinger (FHIA-01). Australia 5064, Australia. Email: & J.C. Steffens. 1993. cDNA cloning and expres- INFOMUSA 2(2): 9-11. [email protected]; Fax. (+61) 8 8303 8601; sion of potato polyphenol oxidase. Plant Mol. Biol. Sambrook J., E.F. Fritsch & T. Maniatis. 1989. Colin Bird works at Syngenta, Jealott’s Hill Research 21: 59-68. Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual, 2nd ed. Station, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 6EY, UK.

Tissue culture Shoot regulation in liquid medium In vitro multiplication of FHIA-18 plantain in the presence of paclobutrazol

M. Daquinta, Y. Lezcano, M. Escalona Swamy et al. 1983). These techniques In practice, these techniques have dis- and R. Santos. have enhanced national and interna- played various advantages over traditional exchange of tissue culture material tional multiplication methods including with the assurance that this does not the obtaining of pathogen-free plants, the n vitro culture techniques using spread diseases. In vitro conservation smaller volume of seed material to be shoot tips or meristems have been and cryopreservation (Villalobos and transported, a decrease in the areas Iused since 1972 for obtaining clean Abdelnour 1992) developed, as did tissue devoted to seed multiplication, continu- material and performing rapid multipli- culture techniques supporting genetic ous seedling production all the year cation of different clones of the genus improvement programmes (Escalant and round and the rapid multiplication of Musa (Berg and Bustamante 1974, Dore Teisson 1991). recent or new varieties. All this con-

22 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 tributes to accelerating the development Table 1. The effect of PBZ on the number of shoots of FHIA-18 in different types of new plantations. of culture. Ciego de Avila, 1997.

Paclobutrazol (PBZ) is a growth Types of culture inhibitor very commonly used in agriculture but whose effect on plantain in vitro Treatment Solid Liquid Temporary immersion had not been reported. The present work MS + 4 BAP 3.8 b 3.4 b 7.4 a on FHIA-18 plantain concerns the effect MS + 4BAP + 1PBZ 5.2 b 4.7 c 6.2 a of PBZ on the budding of shoots in differ- MS + 4BAP + 2PBZ 4.0 c 6.0 b 7.3 a C.V. 11.43 13.87 10.92 ent types of culture. The values with different letters in the same column are different in Duncan’s test (p<0.05). Material and methods Shoot tip buds from nurseries were used for the in vitro culture of FHIA-18. The plant material was washed with deter- gent before two disinfection operations with calcium hypochlorite 3%. The buds, 1 cm high with a base of approximately 0.5 cm2 were subcultured on MS medium (Murashige & Skoog 1962) enriched with 4 mg/L BAP. The pH of the culture media was adjusted to 5.8 before autoclave ster- ilization at 1.2 kg/cm2 and 121°C for 15 minutes. All the cultures were maintained under the same photoperiod conditions, in natural light, at 25° ± 2°C and high relative humidity (>80%). Part of the pseudostem of the micropropagated plants was incised to the meristem and cut transversally. The two parts obtained were subjected to the experiments described below. Figure 1. A temporary immersion system flask containing plantain explants cultured in the presence Evaluation of the effect of PBZ on of PBZ. the number and height of shoots of FHIA-18 The buds were cultured on MS medium immersion system in which the medium shoot size can be seen; this enables the enriched with 4 mg/L BAP, alone or com- enriched with 4 mg/L BAP displayed bet- production of a larger number of plants bined with paclobutrazol (1 or 2 mg/L) ter results, even though there were no per culture unit. using various culture methods: solid significant differences with the medium Shoot growth behaviour is shown in medium, stationary liquid medium and enriched with 2 mg/L PBZ. The synergic Table 2. The addition of PBZ to the cul- temporary immersion. Seven explants effect of PBZ has been reported in orna- ture medium reduced shoot height what- were used per flask with 10 repetitions mental Araceae (Werbrouck and Debergh ever the type of culture. A greater reduc- per treatment. Three repetitions were 1996). This stimulant effect did not tion in shoot growth according to the performed for temporary immersion. appear to occur with the concentrations increase in PBZ concentration can be Temporary immersion is a new tissue used in this work on plantain. However, seen in the liquid culture medium. culture technique in which the explants Ziv et al. (1998) achieved the stimulation However, greater shoot height was always are bathed in the culture medium for a of banana budding with Ancymidol, obtained in the liquid media (stationary very short time (3 minutes) every three another growth inhibitor. Temporary and temporary immersion) than in cul- hours. The medium returns to the culture immersion was found to be the culture ture on solid medium whatever the treat- flask storage. These operations are method that increases the number of ment used. This would appear to show repeated for three weeks (Teisson and shoots. Teisson and Alvard (1995) that the type of culture has considerable Alvard 1995). stressed the advantages of this type of effect on bud growth. Although no culture. A temporary immersion system inhibiting effect of PBZ on banana and Results and discussion flask is shown in Figure 1. The smaller plantain shoot growth has been observed, Variations in the number of buds were observed according to the medium and the type of culture used (Table 1). MS Table 2. The influence of PBZ on the height( (in cm) of FHIA-18 shoots in the different types of culture. Ciego de Avila, 1997. medium with 4 mg/L BAP induced a smaller number of buds in stationary Type of culture liquid medium. However, the addition of Treatment Solid Liquid Temporary immersion 2 mg/L PBZ improved this parameter. The MS + 4 BAP 2.10 b 3.30 a 3.69 a addition of PBZ to the medium always MS + 4BAP + 1PBZ 1.68 b 2.16 a 2.51 a increased the number of buds in solid MS + 4BAP + 2PBZ 1.58 b 1.70 b 2.32 a medium and in stationary liquid medium. C.V. 9.03 10.34 8.46 This was not the case in the temporary The values with different letters in the same column are different in Duncan’s test (p<0.05).

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 23 this has been reported for numerous immersion. Pp. 105-110 in Current issues in induced adventitious shoot proliferation in plants, such as pineapple (Daquinta et al. Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (M. Terzi, araceas. Plant Growth Regulation 15: 81-85. 1994) and apple (Steffens and Wang R. Cella & A. Falavigna, eds). Kluwer Acad. Pub., Ziv M., G. Ronen & M. Raviv. 1998. Proliferation of 1986). Wang found that inhibition of Dordrecht, Pays-Bas. meristematic clusters in disposable presterilized shoot extension corresponded to a Villalobos V. & A. Abdelnour. 1992. Cryoconservation plastic bioreactors for the large-scale micropropa- change in cell wall composition in which of Musa spp. and its potential for long-term stor- gation of plants. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. Plant PBZ degraded polysaccharides. The age of other tropical crops. Pp. 197-209 in 34: 152-158. xylem:phloem ratio also decreased. Conservation of plant genes, Academic Press, Inc. The authors work at Centro de Bioplantas, Carretera Werbrouck S.P.O. & P.C. Debergh. 1996. Imidazole a Morón Km. 9, Ciego de Avila, CP 69450. Cuba. Conclusions fungicides and paclobutrazol enhance cytokinin- E-mail: [email protected] It was verified in this work that PBZ has an inhibitory effect on the shoot Diseases Early screening of Foc pathogenicity growth of FHIA-18, although the coefficient of multiplication for PBZ treatments did not differ from the control in Preliminary results of a virulence the case of temporary immersion. Boxus et al. (1991) reported that the develop- test of the populations of ment of very vigorous leaves on banana plants reduces the number of explants Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense per flask to a maximum of seven or eight. This also makes subcultures difficult for different banana cultivars because the phenolized parts must be cut back and cleaned, delaying micropropa- in the greenhouse gation and making the work more labori- ous. With PBZ, the size of tissue culture plants is reduced, making the technique more effective for banana micropropaga- Do Nang Vinh, Nguyen Van Khiem Samples of 250 g banana tissue affected tion. The use of this growth inhibitor in and Le Huy Ham by isolates belonging to VCGs 0124, culture media enables us to increase the VCG 0124/5, VCG 0124-0124/5-0125 were number of explants per culture unit and buried in a 5 cm-deep trench, at a dis- thus make better use of the media. It usarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense tance of 7-10 cm from the plant pseu- seems that synergy between PBZ and (Foc) is considered a highly com- dostem. Non-inoculated banana tissue cytokinins can only be obtained at higher Fplex pathogen. Up to now, was added to control pots. Each test iso- concentrations or by using other researches on banana have shown rela- late was used to inoculate four plants of inhibitors, as mentioned by Ziv et al. tionships between races of Foc and their different banana cultivars. Disease sever- (1998). ■ hosts in many parts of the world: races 1 ity was assessed after 4 months according and 2 attack not only Gros Michel (AAA), to Moore et al. (1993). Plants were scored References Silk, Lady Finger (AAB), but also Bluggoe for external symptoms on a 1-5 scale: Berg L.A. & M. Bustamante. 1974. Heat treatment and Pisang Awak (ABB); race 4 attacks 1, no yellow discolouration of leaves; and meristem culture for the production of virus- the Cavendish group (AAA) and cultivars 2, yellowing of lower leaves; 3, yellowing free bananas. Phytopathology 64: 320-322. susceptible to races 1 and 2 (Waite 1977, of all lower leaves with some discoloura- Boxus P., J.M. Terzi, C. Lievens, M. Pylyser, Bentley et al., 1998). tion of younger leaves; 4, all leaves yellow; P. Ngaboyamahina & K. Duhem. 1991. In Vietnam, race 1 (VCGs 0124, 0124/5, 5, plant dead. Rhizomes and pseudostems Improvement and perspectives of micropropaga- 0125, 0124/5-0125, 0124-0124/5-0125) of plants were then cut longitudinally to tion techniques applied to some hot climate attacks Chuoi Tay (Pisang Awak), Chuoi determine the extent of invasion of vascu- plants. Acta Horticulturae 289: 55-64. Ngop (Bluggoe), Chuoi Com La (Silk, lar tissue. Rhizome discolouration was Daquinta M.,T. Martinez, R. Castillo & R. Benega. AAB) (Khiem et al. 2000) and Tay Tia rated on a 1-7 scale: 1, no discolouration; 1994. Estimulación del ahijamiento en vitroplan- (Silk, AAB) (Pegg and Moore 1995). 2, discolouration confined to root rhizome tas de piña con paclobutrazol. Centro Agrícola However, the response of Vietnamese cul- plexus; 3, trace to 5% of stellar region dis- 21(2): 75-82. tivars in collections to Foc has not previ- coloured; 4, 6-20% of stellar region dis- Dore Swamy R., N.K. Sirinasa & E. Chacko. 1983. ously been thoroughly studied. coloured; 5, 21-50% of stellar region dis- Tissue-culture propagation of banana. Scientia The objective of this study was to char- coloured; 6, 51-99% of stellar region Horticulturae 18: 247-253. acterize different isolates of Foc using discoloured; 7, 100% discoloured. Escalant J.V. & C. Teisson. 1988. Embryogenèse the greenhouse virulence test. Pseudostems were scored for invasion of somatique chez Musa sp. CR Acad. Sc. Paris vascular tissue on a 1-4 scale: 1, no inva- 306: 277-281. Material and methods sion of pseudostem; 2, invasion of outer Murashige T. & F. Skoog. 1962. A revised medium for Three-month-old tissue culture banana leaf sheaths only; 3, invasion of most rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue plants of eight different cultivars (Chuoi stands except for central leaf cylinder; cultures. Physiol. Plant. 15: 473-497. Tay (Pisang Awak, ABB), Ngop (Bluggoe, 4, invasion of all vascular strands. Ratings Steffens G.L. & S.Y. Wang. 1986. Biochimical and ABB), Tay Tia (Silk, AAB), Com La (Silk, were summed to give a total disease rating. physiological alterations in apple trees caused by a AAB), Man (Mysore, AAB), Tieu Trung gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor, Paclobutrazol. (Cavendish, AAA), Tay Nang (AAA) and Results Acta Horticulturae (ISHS) 179: 433-442. Bom (AA) were grown in 20-L pots con- All isolates of race 1 (VCGs 0124, VCG Teisson C. & D. Alvard. 1995. A new concept of plant taining Pasteur-sterilized soil in a green- 0124/5, and ‘VCG 0124-0124/5-0125’) in vitro cultivation liquid medium: Temporary house at 25-35oC. caused the first symptoms of Fusarium wilt

24 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 disease observed on young leaves after Table 1. Disease severity ratings for different banana cultivars inoculated with 47-65 days in Com La, and 62-75 days in isolates of Foc in the greenhouse (values are means of 4 plants). Chuoi Tay. Typical disease symptoms were Cultivar VCG Leaf Rhizome Pseudostem Total also expressed in Chuoi Tay, and Com La symptoms discolouration discolouration rating after 4 months of inoculation in the green- (1-5) (1-7) (1-4) (1-16) house. These isolates did not significantly Chuoi Tay 0124 3.5 6.0 3.0 12.5 differ in virulence in either of these culti- (ABB) 0124/5 3.5 5.0 3.0 11.5 vars (total rating ranged from 11.5-13.0) 0124-0124/5-0125 3.25 6.0 3.25 12.5 (Table 1). The pathogen was readily re-iso- Control - 1.25 1.0 1.0 3.25 lated from the discoloured tissue and the Chuoi 0124 3.25 6.25 3.5 13.0 VCGs of the isolates confirmed. Non-inocu- Com La 0124/5 3.75 6.0 3.25 13.0 lated control plants of both Chuoi Tay and (AAB) 0124-0124/5-0125 3.25 5.75 3.25 12.25 Com La remained healthy and free from Control - 1.25 1.25 1.0 3.5 external or internal disease symptoms Chuoi Tieu 0124 1.0 1.5 1.0 3.5 (total rating was about 3.25-3.50). (AAA) 0124/5 1.25 1.25 1.25 3.5 Race 1 isolates (VCGs 0124, VCG 0124/5, 0124-0124/5-0125 1.5 1.25 1.0 3.75 and ‘VCG 0124-0124/5-0125’) did not cause Control - 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 external or internal symptoms in Chuoi Chuoi 0124 1.5 1.0 1.0 3.5 Tieu Trung (Cavendish, AAA), Tay Nang Tay Nang 0124/5 1.5 1.25 1.0 3.75 (AAA), Tay Tia (AAB), Man (Mysore, AAB), (AAA) 0124-0124/5-0125 1.25 1.75 1.0 4.0 Bom (AA) and Ngop (Bluggoe, ABB) in the Control - 1.25 1.0 1.0 3.25 same conditions (total rating ranged Chuoi 0124 1.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.5-4.5) (Table 1). However, internal exam- Tay Tia 0124/5 1.5 1.25 1.0 3.75 ination of the rhizomes of plants of these (AAB) 0124-0124/5-0125 1.5 1.5 1.0 4.0 cultivars revealed a light discolouration of Control - 1.25 1.0 1.0 3.25 the roots up to, but not beyond, the junc- Chuoi Man 0124 1.0 1.5 1.0 3.5 tion of the root and the stellar region of the (AAB) 0124/5 1.5 1.5 1.0 4.0 rhizome. All non-inoculated control plants 0124-0124/5-125. 1.5 1.5 1.0 4.0 of six of these cultivars remained healthy Control - 1.25 1.0 1.0 3.25 and free from external or internal symp- Chuoi 0124 1.0 1.5 1.0 3.5 toms (total rating about 3.0-4.0). Bom 0124/5 1.75 1.25 1.0 4.0 (AA) 0124-0124/5-0125 1.5 1.75 1.0 4.25 Control - 1.25 1.0 1.0 3.25 Discussion Chuoi 0124 1.5 1.5 1.0 4.0 The greenhouse pathogenicity test demon- Ngop 0124/5 1.25 1.75 1.0 4.0 strated that only Chuoi Tay (Pisang Awak, (ABB) 0124-0124/5-0125 1.5 1.75 1.0 4.25 ABB) and Chuoi Com La (AAB) were Control - 1.5 1.5 1.0 4.0 attacked by race 1 (VCGs 0124, 0124/5, 0124-0124/5-0125). Chuoi Tieu Trung (Cavendish, AAA), Chuoi Tay Nang (AAA), Tay Tia (AAB), Man (Mysore, AAB), Ngop Beckam et al. (1962) and Buddenhagen Khiem N.V., N.D. Vinh, C.B. Phuc & L.H. Ham. 2000. (Bluggoe, ABB), and Chuoi Bom (AA) were (1990) indicated that all strains of the Study on vegetative compatibility and distribution not affected by these VCGs of race 1. pathogen are able to colonize the roots of of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense in North However, in another study (Khiem et al. both resistant and susceptible cultivars. Vietnam. Journal of Agriculture and Food 2000), we indicated that Chuoi Tay, Chuoi Therefore, it is not unexpected that resis- Industry: 416-418. Com La and Chuoi Ngop cultivars were tant banana cultivars (e.g. Chuoi Tieu, Tay Moore N.Y., K.G. Pegg, R.N. Allen & J.A.G. Irwin. infected by Fusarium wilt in the field. Pegg Nang, etc.) inoculated with the race 1 1993. Vegetative compatibility and distribution of and Moore (1995) also reported Tay Tia VCGs in the greenhouse pathogenicity Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense in Australia. (AAB) to be susceptible to Fusarium wilt test were only able to block the pathogen Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture in Vietnam. In our opinion, Chuoi Ngop and at the root-rhizome plexus. ■ 33: 797-802. Tay Tia become infected only in severe Pegg K.G. & N.Y. Moore. 1995. Fusarium wilt environmental conditions. Therefore, the References (Panama wilt) in the Asia and Pacific area. Pp. 42- study indicates that Chuoi Tay and Com La Beckman C.H., S. Halmos & M.E. Mace. 1962. The 44 in Banana Production, Biotechnology and cultivars are susceptible to Fusarium wilt interaction of host, pathogen and soil tempera- Biodiversity. Workshop held in Hanoi, Vietnam disease, but Tay Tia cultivar is not suscep- ture in relation to susceptibility of Fusarium wilt Oct. 1995. tible to Fusarium wilt disease as originally of bananas. Phythopathology 51: 507-515. Puhalla J.E. 1985. Classification of strains of reported by Pegg and Moore (1995). Bentley S., K.G. Pegg, N.Y. Moore, R.D. Davis & I.W. Fusarium oxysporum on the basis of vegetative Results from the greenhouse patho- Buddenhagen. 1998. Genetic variation among veg- compatibility. Canadian Journal of Botany genicity test also support the evolutionary etative compatibility groups of Fusarium oxyspo- 63: 179-183. model proposed by Puhalla (1985), which rum f.sp. cubense by DNA fingerprinting. Ecology Waite B.H. 1997. Inoculation studies and natural suggests that the genes governing vegeta- and Population Biology 88(12): 1283-1293. injection of banana varieties with races 1 and tive compatibility and those for patho- Buddenhagen I.W. 1990. Banana breeding and race 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense. genicity in formae speciales of Fusarium Fusarium wilt. Pp. 107-113 in Fusarium wilt of Plant Disease Reporter 61: 15-19. oxysporum are fixed in the same thallus. banana. First International Conference on Virulence for different banana cultivars Fusarial Wilt of Banana, Miami, USA, 27-30 August The authors work at the Institute of Agricultural was also found to vary within a VCG. 1989 (R.C. Ploetz, ed.). APS, St Paul, USA. Genetics, Tu liem, Hanoi, Vietnam.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 25 Pests Survey on nematode diversity Evolution of the nematofauna of plantain, Musa AAB, in Côte d’Ivoire

A. Adiko and A. Badou N’Guessan in polyethylene bags. From one field to whereas in the Midwest, the recent plan- the other, the shovel was rid of soil parti- tain-producing area, only four species were cles. In the laboratory, roots were rinsed isolated (Table 1). Based on Fortuner and lantain is a major staple food in with tap water and chopped in 0.5 cm sec- Merny’s classification parameters (1973), tropical and subtropical regions, tions. Nematodes were extracted accord- these species fall into three and two Pparticularly in West and Central ing to the mistifier extraction technique groups in the Southeast and the Midwest Africa, which account for 44% of global (Seinhorst 1950). They were identified to respectively (Figure 1): production (Frison and Sharrock 1988). genus level and counted under a stereo • frequent and abundant species (upper Cultivated by smallholders using tradi- binocular microscope. For identification right area of the diagrams): H. multi- tional farming systems, plantain is gener- to species level, specimens of each genus cinctus, Meloidogyne spp. and P. cof- ally mixed-cropped with either perennial were gently killed by immersion in hot feae in the Southeast; H. multicinctus, crops or other food crops. Consequently water and processed in glycerine accord- Meloidogyne spp. in the Midwest; the yield is low and varies between 5 and ing to Seinhorst’s (1959) rapid method. • frequent but non-abundant species 10 t.ha-1. Nematode populations were defined (lower right area of the diagrams): At present, there is a noticeable trend according to their frequency and abun- R. similis in the Southeast; towards pure stands of plantain, particu- dance. Fortuner and Merny (1973) • non-frequent and non-abundant larly in Latin America and the Caribbean, defined the frequency as the number of species (lower left area of the dia- following Belalcázar’s work relative to the samples where a species is isolated. They grams): H. pararobustus and R. reni- use of high-density planting (Belalcázar further considered as frequent a species formis in the Southeast; R. similis and and Cayón 1998). found in at least 30% of the samples. As to P. coffeae in the Midwest. Besides the inadequacies of the tradi- the abundance, it was determined as the As was the case already in 1985-1986 tional cropping systems, the production log average number of the species in the (Adiko 1988), H. multicinctus and of plantain is hindered by several pests field. Thus, on the basis of the threshold Meloidogyne remain the most wide- and diseases. Among these biotic factors, of banana tolerance to R. similis set by spread and numerous nematodes infect- plant parasitic nematodes are one of Guérout (1972), we considered a species ing plantain roots. The superficial the main constraints (Gowen and abundant when its mean number was necrotic lesions and galls caused respec- Quénéhervé 1990). In Côte d’Ivoire, greater than 3 (log 1000 individuals/100 g tively by the two species are known not to a large-scale survey was conducted in of roots). cause significant impediment to the pro- 1985-1986 to determine the fauna of ductivity of Musa in tropical regions nematodes that parasitize the crop and Results and discussions (Stover 1972, Adiko 1989, Gowen and the distribution of the banana nematode, Contrary to the first survey that recorded Quénéhervé 1990). Radopholus similis (Adiko 1988). Owing plant parasitic nematodes in both soil and Hardly detectable in the samples dur- to the lack of regulatory control measures roots of plantain (Adiko 1988), the study ing the first survey (Adiko 1988), enforcement in the country, it appeared herein reported deals only with nematodes H. pararobustus was still absent in the necessary to assess the changes that in the roots. Six species of endoparasitic Midwest but became relatively frequent might have occurred within the nema- nematodes were found associated with and abundant in the Southeast. As to the tode populations associated with the crop plantain, including Helicotylenchus mul- infestation of R. reniformis, it remained 12 years later. ticinctus, Hoplolaimus pararobustus, unchanged, i.e. absent in the Midwest Meloidogyne spp., Pratylenchus coffeae, and relatively frequent and abundant in Materials and methods Radopholus similis and Rotylenchulus the Southeast. The survey was conducted in 1997 and reniformis. The fields in the traditional The main features of the fauna of 1998. Surveyed fields included all types of plantain-producing regions of the nematodes associated with plantain plantain production systems, compound Southeast harboured all the species reside in the infestations of P. coffeae and production, plantain associated with food crops, cash crops and plantain in pure Table 1. Occurrence and population densities of nematode species associated stands. One hundred and thirteen (113) with plantain in Côte d’Ivoire. samples were collected (63 in the Southeast and 50 in the Midwest). Southeast Midwest Sampling consisted of digging with a Nematode species Nematodes/100g % infested Nematodes/100g % infested shovel a hole about 50 cm long from the roots fields roots fields base of the mother plant, 30 cm wide and Helicotylenchus multicinctus 53 314 96 41 525 100 30-40 cm deep. All the roots thus removed Hoplolaimus pararobustus 613 19 - - were collected. At each sampling site, Meloidogyne spp. 1 940 90 1 851 93 5 root subsamples were taken, thoroughly Pratylenchus coffeae 2 704 35 4 2 mixed and a composite sample (800- Radopholus similis 460 43 48 2 1000 g) was pooled. Samples were sealed Rotylenchulus reniformis 556 12 - -

26 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 International seminar on plantain production, Southeast Armenia, Quindío, Columbia, 4-8 May 1998 5 (M.J. Gerardo Cardona, S.L. Belalcazár Carvajal, 1 D.G. Cayón Salinas & R.G. Botero Isaza, eds). 4 Bridge J., R. Fogain & P.R. Speijer. 1997. The root 4 2 lesion nematodes of banana. Musa Pest Fact 3 Sheets No. 2. INIBAP, Montpellier, France. 6 5 3 Fortuner R. & G. Merny. 1973. Les nématodes phy- 2 Abundance toparasites des racines associés au riz en Basse- Casamance (Sénégal) et en Gambie. Cahiers de 1 l’ORSTOM, série Biologie 21: 3-18. Frison E. & S. Sharrock. 1998. The economic, social 0 and nutritional importance of banana in the 0102030405060708090100 world. Pp. 21-35 in Bananas and food security/Les Frequency (%) productions bananières: un enjeu économique majeur pour la sécurité alimentaire. International symposium, Douala, Cameroon, 10-14 November Midwest 1988 (C. Picq, E. Fouré & E.A. Frison, eds). 5 INIBAP, Montpellier, France. 1 Gowen S. & P. Quénéhervé. 1990. Nematode para- 4 sites of banana, plantains and abaca. Pp. 431-460 2 in Plant parasitic nematodes in subtropical 3 and tropical agriculture (M. Luc, R.A. Sikora & J. Bridge, eds). CAB International, 2 Wallingford, UK. Abundance 3 Guérout R. 1972. Relations entre les populations de 1 Radopholus similis Cobb et la croissance du 4 bananier. Fruits 27: 331-337. 0 Loos C.A. 1962. Studies on the life history and habits 0102030405060708090100 of the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, Frequency (%) the cause of blackhead disease of banana. Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of 1. Helicotylenchus multicinctus 4. Pratylenchus coffeae Washington 29: 43-52. 2. Meloidogyne spp. 5. Hoplolaimus pararobustus Pinochet J. 1978. Histopathology of the root lesion 3. Radopholus similis 6. Rotylenchulus reniformis nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae on plantains, Musa AAB. Nematologica 24: 337-340. Sarah J.L., J. Pinochet & J. Stanton. 1996. The bur- Figure 1. Occurrence frequency and abundance indexes of nematode species associated with plantain in Côte d’Ivoire. rowing nematode of bananas, Radopholus similis Cobb, 1913. Musa Pest Fact Sheets No.1. INIBAP, Montpellier, France. Seinhorst J.W. 1950. De betekenis van de toestand R. similis. Indeed, P. coffeae, which was Both P. coffeae and R. similis are van de grond voor het optreden van aanstasting isolated for the first time on plantain in migratory endoparasitic nematodes door het stengelaatje (Ditylenchus dipsaci Côte d’Ivoire 12 years ago in only one invading the root cortex and the corm of (Kühn) Filipjev). Tijdschrift Plantenziekten field in Aboisso (Adiko 1988), has Musa. Furthermore, their life cycle from 56: 291-349. become prevalent in the whole Southeast egg to egg is of 20-27 days at 25-30ºC Seinhorst J.W. 1959. A rapid method for the transfer region. As a matter of fact, its population (Loos 1962, Pinochet 1978). Therefore, of nematodes from fixative to anhydrous glycerin. size superseded that of R. similis, for- the recent prevalence of P. coffeae over Nematologica 4: 67-69. merly one of the most frequent and abun- R. similis, previously well established, Stover R.H. 1972. Banana, plantain and abaca dis- dant nematodes in the traditional plan- could suggest that the former is probably eases. Commonwealth Mycological Inst., Kew, tain-growing areas. The fields of the more pathogenic than the latter. The con- Surrey, England. 316pp. Midwest were still relatively free of these comitant presence of these nematodes two damaging nematodes (Sarah et al. warrants further research to elucidate 1996, Bridge et al. 1997). The occurrence their interactions on both plantain and of P. coffeae throughout the Southeast is banana. ■ symptomatic of the dangers resulting from the unregulated movement of plant- References ing material. In fact, the infestations of Adiko A. 1988. Plant-parasitic nematodes associated P. coffeae and R. similis in the Midwest with plantain, Musa parasidiaca (AAB), in the were recorded in a single field estab- Ivory Coast. Revue de Nématologie 11(1): 109-113. lished with suckers taken from the Adiko A. 1989. Effect of Meloidogyne incognita on Southeast. Undoubtedly, P. coffeae will be plantain, Musa AAB. International Nematology disseminated to the 5500 ha of commer- Network Newsletter 6(3): 27-30. The authors work at the Centre National de Recherche cial banana orchards in the south of the Belalcázar S.C. & G.S. Cayón. 1998. High-density Agronomique (CNRA), 01 BP 1536 Abidjan 01, country. planting. Pp. 147-154 in Proceedings of the Côte d’Ivoire.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 27 Pests Multilocation inventory Parasite nematodes of banana in western Burkina Faso

A. Sawadogo, B. Thio, Y. A.Konate The results reveal the presence of 3. Frequent but little abundant nema- and S. Kiemde three genera of nematodes associated todes: Tylenchorhynchus is an active with banana. They can be classified in parasite of banana but causes little four main groups according to their damage under the local conditions of he development of banana growing prevalence in plantations. The classifica- Burkina Faso; it is observed in the dif- in Burkina Faso is recent, dating tion takes into account the occurrence ferent types of soil and with low popu- Tfrom the 1970s. The crop is grown frequency and abundance thresholds lation levels. mainly in the western and southwestern used by Fortuner and Merny (1973). 4. Nematodes with low frequency and regions of the country where the soil and 1. Frequent and abundant nematodes: low abundance: Pratylenchus sp., climate conditions are favourable. This the six genera below can be considered Xiphinema sp. and Criconemoides sp. humid part of the country supplied as being active parasites of banana: in the soil and Hoplolaimus sp. almost all the dessert bananas produced • Meloidogyne sp., Radopholus similis in roots. These nematodes are minor in 1995, i.e. approximately 3400 tonnes. and Helicotylenchus multicinctus are parasites. National production is still very small and frequent and abundant in both soil and The total population densities of all imports are necessary to cover continu- roots. They multiply actively in banana nematodes displayed differences accord- ously increasing demand. and can cause substantial losses of ing to the location (Table 1). High densi- The intensification of banana growing yield. High population densities were ties of over 15 000 N/dm3 soil were has to face an increasing number of observed at all the locations (Table 1). observed at Guénako, Diarradougou, pests (borers and nematodes) and dis- • Scutellonema sp., Tylenchulus sp. and Samandéni, Kou Valley and Diarrabakoko. eases (Sigatoka leaf spots). Nematodes Psilenchus sp. are less frequently The population densities of nematodes are recognised as a major constraint to observed in the soil (frequency < 60 %) extracted from roots was high in particu- production in the large banana produc- and not observed in roots. Their para- lar at Diarradougou and Samandéni. ing countries and are responsible for sitism of banana seems less serious The results of the inventory of parasite serious yield losses. Knowledge of the than the first three above. nematodes of banana are in agreement nematodes associated with banana in 2. Abundant but infrequent nematodes: with most of the research work performed Burkina Faso is fragmentary and it is Rotylenchulus, Hemicycliophora and on this category of pests around the world important to identify the species that Hoplolaimus. These nematodes are (Leach 1958, Vilardebo 1959, Loos and are most harmful to the crop in order to active parasites of banana but their Loos 1960, Blake 1961, Luc and Vilardebo seek control methods for use by grow- development seems to be related above 1961, Guérout 1972, Gowen 1975, ers. This was the purpose of the under- all to particular soil conditions. High Vilardebo and Guérout 1976, Roman et al. taking of an inventory of parasite nema- densities were observed but only at cer- 1977, Jones and Milne 1982, Quénéhervé todes associated with banana and an tain locations. 1989, Gowen and Quénéhervé 1990). evaluation of their population levels in the western region, the main production zone. The inventory covers only the dessert Table 1. Population densities of the main nematodes associated with banana banana varieties grown in Burkina Faso. observed in the soil and roots depending on the sampling locations. Five varieties are frequently planted: Nematodes ‘Americani’, ‘Grande Naine’, ‘Petite Meloidogyne Radopholus Helicotylenchus Naine’, ‘Poyo’ and ‘Yangambi’. Planting Locations spp. similis multicinctus Total* material is generally imported from Côte N/dm3 N/g N/dm3 N/g N/dm3 N/g N/dm3 N/g d’Ivoire, a large neighbouring banana soil roots soil roots soil roots soil roots producer. Badala 453 3 430 18 1495 37 2912 63 Nematological analyses were per- Djigouèra 7655 136 185 14 490 1 8445 141 formed on a total of 72 soil and root sam- Banzon 2877 68 110 11 1660 38 6467 117 ples from 19 plantations. The samples Guénako 5300 92 463 15 5370 6 23779 141 were taken in the rhizosphere of the Diarradougou 4435 208 992 22 2030 412 17 579 642 banana mother plant at the mature stage. Toussiana 4945 52 290 9 1460 1 7150 62 Nematodes were extracted from 250 cc Samandéni 8542 60 1040 40 7968 245 18708 345 soil using the Seinhorst elutriator method Kou valley 5053 120 128 56 950 1 16921 179 (1962). Soil nematode populations were Boborola 7133 131 75 2 1155 1 8803 134 expressed in nematodes per dm3 soil Darbgè 1525 18 925 84 1090 62 4965 164 (N/dm3). The nematodes in roots were Bérégadougou 1080 14 1000 12 2720 61 7150 87 extracted using Seinhorst’s mistifier Diarrabakoko 865 1 715 1 13835 87 19260 89 technique (1950) and expressed as nema- *Total nematode populations of soil and roots consists of the three genera grouped in the table + the other genera (Hoplolaimus sp., Rotylenchulus reniformis, Hemicycliophora sp., Scutellonema, Psilenchus, Tylenchulus, Pratylenchus, todes per g fresh root (N/g). Xiphinema, Criconemoides, Tylenchorhynchus) observed at relatively low densities.

28 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 This first inventory of parasite nema- 8th British Insecticide and Fungicide Conference, Roman J., X. Rivas, D. Oromas & J. Rodriguez. 1977. todes of banana in Burkina Faso reveals 1975, Brighton, United Kingdom. Further experiments on the chemical control of that the nematode population densities Jones R.K. & D.L. Milne. 1982. Nematode pests of nematodes in plantains (Musa acuminata x at the different locations are higher than bananas. Pp. 30-37 in Nematology in Southern M. balbisiana, AAB). Journal of Agriculture of the threshold of economic damage. The Africa (D.P. Keetch & J. Heyns, eds). Dept. Agric. University of Puerto Rico 61: 192-199. high profitability of the crop is leading to and Fisheries, Republic of South Africa. Sci. Bull. Quénéhervé P. 1989. Population of nematodes in an increase in the area under banana in No. 400. soils under banana, cv. Poyo, in the Ivory Coast. 3. Burkina Faso. Studies in greater depth on Guérout R. 1972. Relations entre les populations de Seasonal dynamics of populations in mineral soil. the damage caused to banana by nema- Radopholus similis et la croissance du bananier. Revue de Nématologie 12(2): 149-160. todes under the soil and climate condi- Fruits 127: 331-337. Vilardebo A. & R. Guérout. 1976. Nematodes species tions of Burkina Faso and which aim at Leach R. 1958. Blackhead toppling disease of of West Africa, Madagascar and Réunion, with effective control methods easily used by bananas. Nature 181: 204-205. some comments on their biology. Nematropica growers are therefore necessary. ■ Loos C.A. & S.B. Loos. 1960. Preparing free banana 6: 53-54 (Abstr.). seed. Phytopathology 50: 383-386. Seinhorst J.W. 1950. De betekenis van de toestand References Luc M. & A. Vilardebo. 1961. Les nématodes associés van de grond voor het optreden van aanstasting Blake C.D. 1961. Root rot of bananas caused by au bananier dans l’Ouest Africain. Fruits 16: 205- door het stengelaatje (Ditylenchus dipsaci Radopholus similis (Cobb) and its control in New 219. (Kühn) Filipjev). Tijdschrift Plantenziekten South Wales. Nematologica 6: 295-310. Pinochet J. 1987. La variabilidad de Radopholus 56: 291-349. Fortuner R. & G. Merny. 1973. Les nématodes para- similis en banano en las diferentes regiones pro- Seinhorst J.W. 1962. Modification of elutriation sites des racines associés au riz en Basse ductoras del mundo. Pp. 175-182 in Memorias VII method for extracting nematodes from soil. Casamance (Sénégal) et en Gambie. Cahiers Reunion ACORBAT 23-27 Sept. 1985, San José, Nematologica 8: 117-128.

ORSTOM Série Biologie 21: 3-20. Costa Rica (J.J. Galindo & R. Jaramillo Celis, The authors work at the INERA research laboratories, Gowen S.S. 1975. Improvement of banana yields with eds). Boletin Tecnico 121. CATIE, Turrialba, Farako-Bâ Station, BP 403, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina nematicides. Pp. 121-125 in Proceedings of the Costa Rica. Faso. E-mail: [email protected]

Genetic resources Classifying using molecular tools

Genetic and genomic diversity in banana (Musa species and cultivars) based on D2 analysis and RAPD markers

A. Rekha, K.V. Ravishankar, L. Anand the Musa germplasm of Papua New standing the genetic relationships among and S.C. Hiremath Guinea. A Philippine clone was consid- banana cultivars and species. Such stud- ered to be the result of an ancient ies were reported by Gawel and Jarret hybridization between M. balbisiana and (1991), Gawel et al. (1992), Jarret et al. ananas are one of the oldest culti- M. textilis. D’Hont et al. (2000) observed (1992, 1993), Kaemmer et al. (1992), vated fruits. Being a highly evolved the occurrence of M. schizocarpa and Howell et al. (1994), and Bhat et al. Bcrop, many banana cultivars have a M. textilis genomes among the chromo- (1994) among Musa species and culti- number of synonyms resulting in a some- some complement of Musa cultivars. vars. In the present study, an effort has what confused taxonomical status of These observations reveal the complexity been made to understand morphological, many cultivars. Simmonds (1962) con- of the genomic structure of present day quantitative relationships and genomic cluded that the present day cultivars banana cultivars and their evolution. relations among the bananas cultivars of have evolved by the hybridization of two Morphological characterization has South India along with the introduced main species, M. acuminata and M. bal- been the major tool for classifying banana cultivars of banana using D2 analysis and bisiana, which were considered the main cultivars into different genomic groups. RAPD markers. contributors of A and B genomes respec- Efforts have been made to classify tively. All cultivars were classified into bananas and plantains using quantitative Materials and methods various genomic groups such as AA, AAA, traits. Swennen et al. (1995) studied the AB, AAB and ABB respectively based on a pattern of variability among African plan- Plant material morphological scoring method (Stover tains. The variability and genetic diver- Banana accessions were selected from and Simmonds 1987). The primary centre gence studies among Indian bananas the field germplasm plot at the Indian of diversity of wild M. acuminata is the were conducted by Valsalakumari et al. Institute of Horticultural Research, Malayan area extending to Assam, (1985, 1993). Simmonds et al. (1990) Hessaraghatta, Bangalore. Thirty-three Burma, Siam, Indochina and Philippines. reported the relationship among culti- accessions of banana were used for mor- The wild M. balbisiana are found along vated bananas based on numerical taxon- phological studies and 28 accessions for with M. acuminata and in peninsular omy. The results of these studies revealed the RAPD studies. India and western Ghats (Simmonds the relationships and helped to eliminate 1962). Recently Shepherd and Ferreira some synonyms. Molecular techniques D2 analysis (1992) identified cultivars derived from have proved to be a powerful tool in Morphological observations were hybridization with M. schizocarpa among exploiting such situations and under- recorded from the selected 33 accessions

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 29 from a field germplasm plot which per accessions with a planting distance of measure for a group distance based on included 5 Musa species, 25 cultivars 1.75 x 1.75 m and regular cultural prac- multiple characters as proposed by belonging to different genomic groups tices. The data on plant morphology, Mahalanobis, were calculated using SPAR (Simmonds 1987) and 3 synthetic quantitative yield and fruit parameters software (Doshi and Gupta 1991). hybrids. The plantation included 3 plants were recorded (Table 1). D2 statistics, a Grouping of varieties was done following

Table 1. Growth and yield parameters (mean).

Character*

Musa accessions 123456789101112131415 M. acuminata 153.30 1.70 13.70 7.00 3.00 1.40 30.70 21.00 7.00 116.70 2.30 6.20 1.50 5.60 23.70 M. a. ssp. malaccensis 123.30 2.70 15.30 11.00 2.30 1.50 20.30 28.00 7.30 97.90 3.00 7.50 2.10 6.00 21.70 Annara Kunnan 121.00 2.10 11.30 6.30 7.00 1.50 30.30 30.30 10.00 98.70 3.00 8.20 2.10 14.00 21.10 Pisang Lilin 122.30 1.40 11.70 10.00 5.70 1.60 48.00 31.30 6.00 70.70 4.40 13.10 2.30 35.20 24.70 Tongat 146.00 1.70 11.00 2.00 5.00 1.30 36.70 40.00 8.30 100.70 2.80 9.10 2.20 27.00 21.10 M. balbisiana (1) 144.00 3.80 22.00 7.00 11.30 1.80 60.00 50.00 9.70 125.00 15.20 13.40 4.20 104.10 20.10 M. balbisiana (2) 211.70 5.20 31.30 11.00 14.00 2.60 73.70 81.70 12.70 186.00 24.00 18.80 4.90 155.60 17.30 Ney Poovan 127.30 2.90 20.00 11.70 5.30 1.80 66.70 56.70 10.70 134.70 9.20 12.30 3.20 62.20 28.60 Elakki Bale 118.30 2.70 17.30 8.30 6.00 1.90 61.30 49.00 10.30 144.70 9.10 11.60 3.00 55.30 28.50 Kunnan 119.00 2.30 16.00 6.30 6.30 1.70 45.00 30.30 7.70 79.00 4.30 11.30 3.30 57.70 23.70 Rasa Kadali 112.30 2.90 19.00 5.70 5.30 1.70 41.70 52.00 11.00 138.70 5.30 9.10 2.70 36.80 24.20 Dwarf Cavendish 131.30 1.30 17.00 6.30 5.70 1.20 57.70 39.30 6.70 64.70 10.80 17.70 3.80 138.40 22.60 Gros Michel 141.00 2.90 20.30 6.00 6.30 1.70 58.30 41.00 6.00 71.00 8.80 16.30 4.30 129.30 24.20 Grande Naine 123.00 1.40 16.30 5.30 6.30 1.70 71.30 36.30 5.70 48.00 5.50 17.40 3.60 123.40 21.30 Robusta 132.30 2.40 19.30 7.00 7.00 1.90 65.00 58.70 7.30 83.70 16.20 20.40 4.20 168.40 23.70 Red Banana 144.70 2.90 23.00 2.70 4.30 2.00 65.30 33.70 4.30 45.00 7.90 15.30 4.40 149.50 23.00 Rasthali 116.00 3.00 19.00 7.30 6.70 1.90 61.70 36.00 6.30 78.00 6.60 14.10 3.60 83.80 26.40 N. Rasabale 119.30 2.90 20.70 8.00 4.30 1.20 40.00 46.00 7.30 79.00 6.30 13.00 3.30 71.00 27.50 Nendran 116.00 2.20 16.70 2.70 2.30 1.40 46.70 33.00 5.00 33.70 4.00 16.80 3.70 105.30 30.30 Velethan 124.30 2.90 20.70 3.30 2.00 1.60 58.00 41.70 5.30 55.70 8.60 20.10 3.90 159.80 30.30 Palayan Kodan 133.00 2.80 18.30 5.00 6.00 1.70 60.00 46.70 12.00 129.70 12.00 11.40 3.20 60.00 22.00 Ladan Small 174.00 2.70 20.00 4.70 4.70 1.80 62.00 40.00 6.30 73.70 6.50 12.70 4.00 87.70 25.30 Kullan 179.70 1.90 19.70 4.30 3.70 1.50 62.70 33.00 6.30 66.00 6.20 12.20 3.40 67.90 24.00 Virupakshi 173.00 2.70 18.70 3.70 2.30 1.90 61.30 37.00 6.30 75.30 8.50 11.40 3.30 63.10 27.00 Rajapuri 177.20 1.50 18.00 4.70 4.00 1.30 55.70 36.70 6.70 60.70 6.30 12.80 3.50 62.30 23.80 Muthia 128.70 3.00 22.70 6.00 6.30 1.80 65.00 49.30 7.30 83.30 12.90 15.90 4.80 151.20 21.70 Klue Tiparot 127.30 3.00 22.00 8.70 7.00 1.90 70.70 48.30 7.30 80.30 12.10 15.00 4.80 126.60 25.00 Cuba 117.30 3.00 20.00 4.70 8.00 1.80 65.70 38.70 6.00 61.70 13.00 15.90 5.30 142.20 22.90 Monthan 92.00 3.10 23.30 4.70 6.20 2.00 66.70 61.70 6.30 65.70 13.30 19.90 5.00 222.20 19.30 Karpooravally 130.70 3.30 25.30 7.70 8.00 2.00 65.20 53.00 10.70 170.00 18.30 14.10 3.50 97.10 26.70 M. a. x M. r. 200.30 1.50 11.30 7.00 7.30 1.20 43.30 27.00 8.30 78.30 1.80 1.30 1.90 2.20 0.00 M. a. x M. b. 201.30 1.50 11.30 2.00 6.70 1.10 47.70 27.70 7.70 86.00 1.40 1.30 2.50 2.10 0.00 M. a. x Kadali 140.70 1.60 14.70 7.30 5.00 1.40 51.30 28.30 6.30 70.70 4.50 9.70 2.60 32.80 28.30 Grand mean 140.10 2.50 18.40 6.20 5.80 1.60 54.10 41.60 7.70 89.50 8.30 12.90 3.50 85.00 22.70 *Characters: 1. No. days from flowering to harvest; 2. Plant height (m); 3. Pseudostem girth (cm); 4. No. suckers; 5. No. leaves; 6. Leaf length (m); 7. Leaf width (cm); 8. Bunch length (cm); 9. No. hands; 10. No. fingers; 11. Bunch weight (kg); 12. Finger length( cm); 13. Finger girth (cm); 14. Finger weight ( g); 15. TSS (oBrix)

Table 2. Character means in different clusters of banana accessions.

Cluster

Character I II III IV V 1. No. days from flowering to harvest 139.31 200.83 130.28 112.41 211.67 2. Plant height (m) 2.29 1.53 2.76 2.79 5.20 3. Pseudostem girth (cm) 18.19 11.33 18.09 20.17 31.33 4. No. suckers 5.98 4.50 8.05 3.84 11.00 5. No. leaves 5.40 7.00 6.04 4.66 14.00 6. Leaf length (m) 6.65 1.14 1.67 1.46 2.63 7. Leaf width (cm) 57.84 45.50 45.00 51.75 73.67 8. Bunch length (cm) 40.58 27.33 41.57 48.75 81.67 9. No. hands 7.09 8.00 9.48 5.66 12.67 10. No. fingers 79.16 82.16 125.91 54.17 186.00 11. Bunch weight (kg) 7.97 1.57 8.06 9.73 24.00 12. Finger length (cm) 13.67 1.30 10.12 18.44 18.18 13. Finger girth (cm) 3.57 2.21 2.75 4.45 4.91 14. Finger weight (g) 88.97 2.13 46.54 157.38 155.56 15. TSS (oBrix) 24.41 0.0 23.72 25.73 17.33

30 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 Tocher’s method as described by Singh and Chaudhary (1979). Average intra- cluster distances were calculated using ∑ 2 2 the formula Di /n where Di is the sum of distances between possible combinations (n) of the populations included in the cluster. Average inter-cluster distances were calculated by taking each cluster and their distances from the other cluster. The cluster diagram was drawn with the help of square roots of D2 values showing relationships within and between clusters (Figure 1). The character means of different clusters are shown in Table 2.

RAPD analysis Twenty-eight genotypes were selected for the study, including 6 Musa species, 3 synthetic hybrids, introduced cultivars and important Indian cultivars. The geno- Figure 1. Cluster diagram showing inter- and intra-distances. types involved and their genomic classification are represented in Table 3. The DNA was extracted from a mature leaf by vars. Cluster II had only two genotypes, Plant height and TSS seem to be major the modified CTAB method (Ravishankar which were the synthetic hybrids of factors in this cluster. The fourth cluster et al. 2000). DNA concentrations were cal- crosses M. acuminata x M. balbisiana involved four genotypes: Velethan, culated by measuring the absorbance at and M. acuminata x M. rubra. Both had Nendran (AAB plantain), Cuba and 260 nm with a UV spectrophotometer. dwarf plant types with small inedible Monthan (ABB). This group mainly PCR amplifications were made using fruits with no pulp. Cluster III had 7 geno- represents large fruits. Cluster V had 10 different random primers: OPA-03, types. The three wild M. acuminata types only one genotype, Bhimaithia, a wild OPA-04, OPA-10, OPA-13, OPE-01, OPE-08, were included in this group with M. balbisiana (BB) type collected from OPE-18, OPE-20, OPQ-11 and OPQ-18 M. balbisiana (BB), Ney Poovan, Assam. They are highly robust plants with (Operon Technologies, USA). The reaction Rasakadali (AB) and Karpooravally (ABB) . heavy bunches and large-seeded fruits. volume (25 ml) consisted of 0.3 mM primer, 2.5 µM MgCl2, 0.5 u Taq-polymerase 100 µM dNTPs and 50 ng of template DNA. Table 3. Musa species and cultivars for RAPD studies. The PCR was carried out with initial Sl No. Name Genomic group Geographical area Fruit type Variety No. o denaturation at 93 C for 3 minutes and 1 Musa acuminata AA IIHR, Bangalore wild V17 o o 40 cycles of 93 C for 2 sec., 35 C for 2 sec., 2 M. a. ssp. malaccensis AA ITC0609 wild V14 o o 72 C for 1 min., final extension at 72 C 3 Annara Kunnan AA IIHR, Bangalore(Kerala) wild V21 for 8 minutes. The PCR products were sep- 4 Musa balbisiana (1) BB IIHR, Bangalore wild V26 arated by electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose 5 Musa balbisiana (2) BB IIHR, Bangalore (N.E. India) wild V27 gel containing 0.5 µg/ml of ethidium bro- 6 Musa rubra - N.E. India (Arunachal Pradesh) wild V2 mide. RAPD bands were visualized under 7Pisang Lilin AA IIHR, Bangalore dessert V15 UV light and photographed. The RAPD 8Elakki Bale AB IIHR, Bangalore (Karnataka) dessert V18 bands were analyzed for each primer and 9 Ney Poovan AB IIHR, Bangalore Kerala/Tamil Nadu dessert V19 scored as ‘0’ for absence of the band at a 10 Dwarf Cavendish AAA IIHR, Bangalore dessert V20 particular position and as ‘1’ for presence 11 Robusta AAA IIHR, Bangalore dessert V28 of the band (Table 4). The data obtained 12 Gros Michel AAA ITC1122 dessert V13 were analyzed using a cluster analysis pro- 13 Grande Naine AAA IIHR, Bangalore dessert V22 gram to form a dendrogram based on min- 14 Red Banana AAA IIHR, Bangalore (Kerala) dessert V23 imum variance algorithm (Ward 1963) 15 Palayan Kodan AAB IIHR, Bangalore Kerala/Tamil Nadu dessert V3 (Figure 2). Further, principal component 16 Rasthali AAB IIHR, Bangalore (Tamil Nadu) dessert V7 analysis was done to group the genotypes 17 Ladan Small AAB IIHR, Bangalore (Bihar) dessert V5 (Figure 3). 18 Kullan AAB IIHR, Bangalore (S. India) dessert V4 19 Virupakshi AAB IIHR, Bangalore (Tamil Nadu) dessert V6 Results and discussion 20 Velethan AAB IIHR, Bangalore (Kerala) dessert V1 21 Cuba ABB IIHR, Bangalore (Cuba) cooking V9 D2 analysis 22 Monthan ABB IIHR, Bangalore (Tamil Nadu) cooking V8 D2 analysis revealed 5 clusters (Table 5). 23 Muthia ABB IIHR, Bangalore (N. India) cooking V11 The first cluster involved 19 cultivars. 24 Karpooravally ABB IIHR, Bangalore (Tamil Nadu) cooking V10 They were the edible fruit types of AA, 25 Klue Tiparot ABB ITC0652 cooking V12 AAA, AB, AAB groups and cultivar Muthia 26 M. a. x M. r. - IIHR, Bangalore (synthetic hybrid) - V25 of group ABB, which has smaller fruits 27 M. a. x M. b. - IIHR, Bangalore (synthetic hybrid) - V24 compared to the fruits of other ABB culti- 28 M. a. x Kadali - IIHR, Bangalore (synthetic hybrid) - V16

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 31 Table 4. Number of polymorphic and V1 V17 monomorphic bands obtained with V7 V18 various primers. V19 V14 V15 Primer No. polymorphic No. monomorphic V16 V2 bands bands V25 V12 OPA-03 7 2 V23 V20 V22 OPA-04 7 - V28 V21 OPA-10 12 - V3 V4 OPA-13 10 - V5 V6 V8 OPE-18 10 1 V9 V10 OPQ-18 11 - V11 V13 Total 57 3 V24 V26 V27

020406080100 120 140

Linkage Distance

Figure 2. Dendogram of banana cultivars constructed by cluster analysis of RAPD markers (for equivalence names/numbers of varieties, see Table 3). Clusters I, II and IV had medium-sized plants with a good TSS. Inter-cluster distances showed that clusters II and IV were distant from all other clusters. Among the clusters involving edible cultivars, clusters III and IV showed the highest distance from the others. Cluster III showed highest divergence with highest intra-cluster distance of 12.0. Involving cultivars with desirable characters, disease resistance and high inter-cluster distances would result in highly segregating generations in breeding programmes.

RAPD analysis Genomic relationship studies were conducted among 28 genotypes using RAPD markers. Among the 10 primers used for amplification, 6 primers (OPA-03, OPA-04, OPA-10, OPA-13, OPE-18 and OPQ-18) gave scorable polymorphic bands. The number of bands produced by each primer with different genotypes varied. A total number of 60 bands were analyzed using Squared Euclidian distance and Ward’s minimum variance algorithm. The dendrogram (Figure 2) showed two main clusters that differentiated all AA genotypes from those of BB types. The BB

Figure 3. Principal component analysis of RAPD-generated markers for banana cultivars group in turn had two nodes with both (for equivalence names/numbers of varieties, see Table 3). wild M. balbisiana types in one group and the cultivars Cuba, Monthan, Karpooravally and Muthia (ABB group) The D2 clusters were based on the Elovazhai of South India had smaller in another group that showed very close quantitative characters, the major con- fruits and bunches, while the M. bal- relationships. The hybrid M. acuminata tributory characters being finger length, bisiana (2) had larger fruits and much x M. balbisiana was placed between TSS (oBrix), plant height, finger girth, taller plants with large pseudostem girth. these two groups. The cultivar Gros number of days from the date of flower- These two types were distinctly separated Michel (AAA) was placed along with the ing to harvest, and pseudostem girth into two different groups. cultivars of group ABB. A similar observa- (Table 6). These characters differ widely The mean for parameters of various tion was also made by Bhat et al. (1994). from AA wild to BB wild genotypes. The characters calculated among different The larger cluster consisted of 20 geno- major group consisted of cultivars with clusters was highest in cluster V for all types, divided into two subgroups of average fruit size and moderate TSS indi- characteristics except TSS. It had only diploids and triploids. The cultivar cating the preference for the taste and one accession, the wild M. balbisiana Velethan (AAB) showed a close relation- palatability, which contributed to selec- and the fruits are inedible, as they are full ship with wild M. acuminata. The culti- tion and domestication. Two types of of seeds. Cluster III had the highest num- var Rasthali (AAB) was placed close to M. balbisiana were distinguished. The ber of fingers. Cluster IV had the longest AB group cultivars Ney Poovan and Elakki M. balbisiana (1) or fruitless variety or finger size and also highest finger weight. Bale, which showed similar fruit types.

32 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 The two cultivars Elakki Bale and Ney Table 5. D2 clusters. Poovan of AB group were very close to each other. They have similar morpholog- Cluster Number of genotypes List of of genotypes I19Kullan (AAB), Virupakshi (AAB), Rajapuri (AAB), Ladan Small (AAB), ical characters such as pseudostem M. acuminata ¥ Kadali (-), Dwarf Cavendish (AAA), Gros Michel (AAA), colour, height, fruit type and quality. Kunnan (?), Robusta (AAA), Nanjangud Rasabale (AAB), Pisang Lilin (AA), Thus, it appears that they are confirmed Red banana (AAA), KlueTiparot (ABB), Grande Naine (AAA), Palayan Kodan (AAB), Tongat (AA), Rasthali (AAB), Muthia (ABB), as synonyms. The wild M. acuminata ssp. Elakkibale (AB) malaccensis (AA) was closer to the culti- II 2 M. acuminata ¥ M. balbisiana, M. acuminata ¥ M. rubra var Pisang Lilin (AA). They were close to III 7 Karpooravally (ABB), Ney Poovan (AB), Rasa Kadali (AB), M. balbisiana (1) AAA group cultivars. The hybrid (BB), M. acuminata ssp. malaccensis (AA), M. acuminata (AA), M. acuminata Kadali (AA) was also Annara Kunnan (AA) closer to Pisang Lilin of this cluster, IV 4 Velethan (AAB), Nendran (AAB), Cuba (ABB), Monthan (ABB) showing its affinity to AA group cultivars. V1M. balbisiana (2) (BB) The second part of this cluster included cultivars of groups AAA and AAB. The cultivars Dwarf Cavendish and Grande Naine (AAA) were highly related, Table 6. Contribution of various characteristics to divergence. with similar morphological characters Sl. No. Character Frequency % contribution such as pseudostem height, colour, fruit 1 No. days from flowering to harvest 45 8.5 type and quality. They were also closer to 2Plant height 89 16.9 Robusta (AAA), which represents the 3 Pseudostem girth 33 6.2 Cavendish group. The cultivar Klue 4No. suckers 5 0.9 Tiparot (= Klue Tiparad) (ABB) (Jenny 5 No. leaves 2 0.4 et al. 1997) was found to be placed along 6 Leaf length 3 0.5 with the cultivar Red Banana (AAA). The 7 Leaf breadth 3 0.5 reasons for this relationship needs fur- 8 Bunch length 8 1.5 ther investigations. The cultivars 9 No. hands 8 1.5 Virupakshi, Ladan Small and Kullan 10 No. fingers 3 0.5 (AAB Pome subgroup) were very closely 11 Bunch weight 12 2.7 related. They also had similar fruit and 12 Finger length 138 26.1 plant morphology except for Kullan, a 13 Finger girth 79 14.9 dwarf plant. The cultivar Palayan Kodan 14 Finger weight 4 0.7 (AAB Mysore subgroup) was placed 15 TSS 96 18.2 between AAA and AAB group cultivars. All the cultivars of ABB group were found to be in one cluster. The cultivars Monthan and Cuba (ABB) were close to The above studies showed the associa- observed between the cultivars of the each other though they differed in their tion of genotypes based on the genomic Cavendish group (Dwarf Cavendish, Gros fruit types: Monthan had large fruits, classification of Simmonds. Some aspects Michel, Robusta) and also between Cuba while Cuba had shorter and stout fruits. need further investigations, as there was and Monthan of ABB cooking types in Karpooravally and Muthia were closely confusion regarding the grouping of culti- both methods of analysis. Irrespectively related. The two M. balbisiana (BB) vars such as Velethan, Ney Poovan and of the place of collection, the Cavendish types were morphologically different Rasthali from South India. They are said (AAA group) cultivars and cooking though placed near each other in the to be AAB and AB group but are placed bananas (ABB group) showed closer rela- dendrogram. M. balbisiana (1) had a far away from the BB group. It might be tions. Pome and Mysore (AAB group) sub- shorter pseudostem and smaller fruits due to the involvement of other Musa groups were in one cluster. than M. balbisiana (2). The hybrid species in their genomes as reported by D2 analysis using morphological char- M. acuminata x M. rubra was placed D’Hont et al. (2000) who showed the acters revealed 5 clusters. These clusters along with M. rubra, which was between involvement of M. textilis and M. schizo- had genotypes from different genomic AA and AAA groups. The wild M. rubra of carpa genomes among the chromosomes groups. This differentiated cultivars section Rhodochlamys showed a closer of Musa cultivars. The three wild mainly according to fruit size. RAPD relation to M. acuminata group. M. acuminata showed different affinities analysis grouped cultivars based on their Principal component analysis also to some cultivars. M. acuminata genomic constitution. However, the revealed a similar pattern of clustering of (Aduthurai) was reported as M. acumi- grouping of some cultivars such as AAB and AB cultivars in one cluster and nata ssp. burmanica by Simmonds and Velethan, Ney Poovan and Rasthali needs also cultivars of AA and AAA along with was found in Western Ghats of South India further studies. Both D2 analysis and M. rubra, M. acuminata and M. acumi- as per Bhaktavatsalu and Sathiamoorthy RAPD were able to differentiate two wild nata ssp. malaccensis (Eigen value 58.5 (1979). This was closer to Velethan (AAB) types of M. balbisiana, Bhimaithia and percent). The cultivars of ABB were in a whereas M. acuminata ssp. malaccensis Elovazhai. third group and the M. balbisiana clones was closer to Pisang Lilin. The wild (BB) were in a separate group. The wild Annara Kunnan of Kerala was found to be Acknowledgement Annara Kunnan (AA) was distinctly sepa- closer to Cavendish cultivars. Closer rela- We are thankful to Director IIHR, for rated and the hybrid M. acuminata x M. tionships were observed between culti- providing the facilities to carry out the balbisiana was between the ABB group vars Kullan, Virupakshi, Rajapuri and above work and to Mr G.K. Naidu who cultivars and wild M. balbisiana types. Ladan Small. Similar relationships were helped in D2 analysis. ■

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 33 References Papua New Guinea. Theor. Appl. Genet. 84(5-6): West and Central African plantains (Musa spp., Bhaktavatsalu C.M. & S. Sathiamoorthy. 1979. 579-584. AAB Group, Musaceae). Economic Botany 49(3): Banana clonal situation in India - A résumé. Fruits Jarret R.L., D.R. Vuylsteke, N.J. Gawel, R.B. Pimental 320-327. 34(2): 99-105. & L.J. Dunbar. 1993. Detecting genetic diversity in Singh R. & B.D. Chudhary. 1979. Biometrical meth- Bhat K.V, R.L. Jarret & Z.W. Liu. 1994. RFLP charac- diploid banana using PCR and primers from ods in quantitative genetics analysis. Kalyani terization of Indian Musa germplasm for clonal a highly repetitive DNA sequence. Euphytica Publishers, New Delhi. identification and classification. Euphytica 80 62(1-2): 69-76. Shepherd K. & F.R. Ferreira. 1984. The PNG biological (1-2): 95-103. Jenny C., F. Carreel & F. Bakry. 1997. Revision on foundation’s banana collection at Laloki Port D’Hont A., A.Paget-Goy, J. Escoute & F. Carreel. 2000. banana taxonomy: Klue Tiparot (Musa spp.) Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Newsletter-Regional The interspecific genome structure of cultivated reclassified as a triploid. Fruits 52(2): 83-91. Committee for Southeast Asia (IBPGR) 8(4): 28-29. banana, Musa spp. revealed by genomic DNA in Kaemmer D., R. Afrza, K. Weising, G. Khal & F.J. Novak. Valsala Kumari P.K. & P.C. Sivaraman Nair. 1993. situ hybridization. Theor. Appl. Genet. 100: 177-183. 1992. Oligonucleotide and amplification finger Genomic classification of Indian banana cultivars. Doshi S.P. & K.C. Gupta. 1991. Statistical package of printing of wild species and cultivars of banana Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad) 70(2): 162-164. Agricultural Research Data Analysis. IARI, ICAR, (Musa spp.) Biotechnology 10(19): 1030-1035. Valsala Kumari P.K., P.C. Sivaraman Nair & New Delhi. Ravishankar K.V., Lalitha Anand & M.R. Dinesh. 2000. P.V. Prabhakaran. 1984. Genetic divergence in Gawel N. & R.L. Jarret. 1991. Cytoplasmic genetic Assessment of genetic relatedness among mango banana. Agricultural Research Journal of Kerala diversity in bananas and plantains. Euphytica cultivars of India using RAPD markers. Journal 23(2): 146-149. 52(1): 19-23. of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology Ward J.H. 1963. Hierarchic grouping to optimize an Gawel N., R.L. Jarret & A.D. Whittemore. 1992. 75(2): 198-201. objective function. Journal of the American Restriction fragment length polymorphism Simmonds N.W. 1962. The evolution of bananas. Statistical Association 58: 236-239. (RFLP) based on phylogenetic analysis of Musa. Longman, London. Theor. Appl. Genet. 84(3-4): 286-290. Simmonds N.W. & S.T.C. Weatherup. 1990. Numerical Howell E.C., H.J. Newbury, R.L. Swennen, L.A. Withers taxonomy of the cultivated bananas. Tropical & B.V. Fort-Lloyd. 1994. The use of RAPD for identi- Agriculture (Trinidad) 67(1): 90-92. A. Rekha, K.V. Ravishankar and Lalitha Anand fying and classifying Musa germplasm. Genome Stover R.H. & N.W. Simmonds. 1987. Bananas (3rd work at the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research 37: 328-332. ed.). Longman, London. (IIHR), Hessaraghatta, Bangalore 560 089, India. Jarret R.L., N. Gawel, A.D. Whittemore & S. Sharrock. Swennen R., D. Vuylsteke & R. Ortiz. 1995. S.C. Hiremath works at the Department of Botany, 1992. RFLP-based phylogeny of Musa species in Phenotypic diversity and patterns of variation in Karnatak University, Dharwad 580 003, India.

Information Iconographic database Banana in images

G. Boussou over the years and has become difficult to images area digitized in a high-resolution handle without suitable classification. format (TIFF format) for subsequent printing and publication. This format is he assembling of iconographic col- Objectives used for the storage of the images on lections on banana is a very old Several objectives are involved in the cre- magnetic tape and CD-ROM. Copies are Tapproach for specialists. P.H. Allen ation and updating of an iconographic then made in a format with a lower reso- already possessed a large collection of database: the illustration of publications lution (JPEG format) for display using photographs taken from 1959 onwards (annual reports, INFOMUSA, etc.), the the Internet and for sending to users by during prospection missions in Papua recording of history and the research e-mail for a preliminary selection. New Guinea (Rosales et al. 1999). Other activities of the various member bodies of The images are organized in 10 themes: researchers such as R. Swennen (KUL, the INIBAP network, the use of new tech- Biodiversity, Plant improvement, Events Leuven, Belgium) possess large quanti- nologies and promotion targeting donors and meetings, Markets, Postharvest, Field ties of images gathered during their and the general public on the occasion of production, Pests, Diseases, Laboratory careers. These iconographic collections symposia and exhibitions. Finally, the techniques and Use. Processing the images are of inestimable value since they trace storage of these images in an appropriate includes cataloguing using a Microsoft® not only the professional career of the format on an electronic storage medium Access data entry form. The content of authors but also the evolution of research enables better archiving and enhances the image is described with a choice of techniques, the biodiversity and variety of exchanges. Classification and access to keywords (indexing) using the AGROVOC bananas (Figure 1), the symptoms of the data is facilitated by computerized thesaurus and INIBAP’s own list of pests and diseases, the damage they cause querying (Dollin Du Fresnel 2000). descriptors. and cultural practices in the different Classification makes access to informa- regions of the world. Finally, these images The collection tion much easier. Thematic access to are sometimes the only witness to rare or and processing of images information enables preliminary sorting endangered cultivars (Touré 2000). The slides, photographs or digital images and prevents incoherent responses Certain researchers have given numer- (CD-ROM) are sent by the authors. Each (Degez and Masse 2000). In contrast with ous images to the INIBAP Information image is accompanied by the following text documents in which search can be and Communication Unit so that these information: the date and place of the performed in the reference, the text resources can be used and illustrate pub- taking of the photo, the author and his and/or the abstract, it is impossible to lications. The stock of images has grown affiliation, the title and comments. The query an iconographic document using a

34 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 portion of the image. It is thus important to complement the images by a title, a comment and good indexing. Cooperation between researchers and information professionals is essential in order to gather a maximum amount of information about the real message carried by the image and thus avoid subjectivity in indexing and hence in interpretation (Lissalde 1998). The recorded data is stored in a central base (SQL server), thus keeping the problem of duplicates and multiple versions of the base to a minimum. Display on the Internet is by means of the Internet Information Service (IIS, Microsoft®) using Active Server Page technology (ASP, Microsoft®).

Searching and displaying of results Figure 1. This is the only banana I know with very very slanting behaviour. This is the normal stature The queryable fields are the country in at maturity of the plant. (Comments from Rony Swennen, author of the picture). which the photograph was taken, the author, the cultivar and the keywords. A single word can also be sought in the payment or reward but mention of the References entire reference. Work is in progress to name of the author and his affiliation Degez D. & C. Masse. 2000. L’indexation à l’ère refine searches and to improve the rele- must accompany the images published. d’Internet. Documentaliste 37(2): 118-120. vance of responses. Readers who wish to contribute to the Dollin Du Fresnel M. 2000. Archivage électronique. Search responses are displayed in two iconographic base managed by INIBAP Documentaliste 37(2): 89-90. columns with a thumbnail version of the can send their images to Gaston Boussou, Lissalde C. 1998. Indigo base: la base d’images fixes image on one side and the title, the Information and Communication Unit. numérisées de l’Orstom. Documentaliste 35(1): author and the reference of the image on 43-50. the other. A double-click displays a larger Acknowledgements Rosales F., E. Arnaud & J. Coto (eds). 1999. A tribute version of a photo (in JPEG format) or INIBAP thanks all the researchers who to the work of Paul A. Allen: a catalogue of wild and the entire description. The images cho- have contributed images to the cultivated bananas. INIBAP, Montpellier, France. sen for subsequent use are available Information and Communication Unit. Touré K.K. 2000. Pour valoriser les fonds de la pho- in TIFF format from the INIBAP Special thanks go to R. Swennen and his tothèque de l’IFAN, mémoire visuelle de l’Afrique. Information and Communication Unit. team for their availability and for the Documentaliste 37(3/4): 174-181. The authors of the images referenced financial and technical resources mobi- Gaston Boussou manages the image database at in the photo library do not receive any lized for this project. ■ INIBAP headquarters.

Genetic resources Collecting and discovering

Classification and characterization of Musa exotica, M. alinsanaya and M. acuminata ssp. errans

R.V. Valmayor fruit. Vast plantations have been estab- economically prohibitive and environ- lished in the tropics and banana is shipped mentally hazardous. to distant temperate markets where the Every time a serious epidemic occurs, a anana is native to Southeast Asia fruit enjoys strong and consistent demand. banana breeding programme is launched. and is the region’s greatest contri- But the commercial cultivars of banana A vital part of any plant improvement pro- Bbution to the tropical fruit industry. succumb to serious diseases. For almost a gramme is the assemblage of germplasm From its center of origin, banana was century, Gros Michel was the leading materials that provide sources for resis- introduced to Africa, Latin America, and export variety until it had to be replaced tance genes. The favourite donors are the the South Pacific where it gained popular- by Cavendish clones in the mid-1960s wild relatives that thrive under adverse ity and great economic importance. In the because it was susceptible to Fusarium conditions. The popular destination of developing countries of the world, cooking wilt. Cavendish banana later proved to be banana collection missions is Southeast bananas serve as a staple food while susceptible to the Sigatoka disease, for Asia, the center of origin and diversity of dessert bananas are the most affordable which existing control measures were bananas.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 35 The earlier banana improvement pro- reestablish the national banana variety ports its classification under section gramme was based in Trinidad and collection of the University of the Callimusa. Jamaica in the former British West Philippines Los Baños. Indies. The exploration missions pri- The common M. acuminata in the Botanical descriptions marily covered Malaysia, Thailand (for- Philippines with its perfect basal flower of new Musa species merly known as Siam) and Myanmar clusters had earlier been associated with and subspecies (formerly Burma). The banana collec- the subspecies banksii (Brewbaker and tors concentrated on wild Musa acumi- Gorrez 1956). But detailed characteriza- Musa exotica R. Valmayor, sp. nov. nata Colla, the progenitor with close tion studies revealed major differences in (Figure 1) affinity to both Gros Michel and plant, fruit and flower bract characteris- Plant stooling profusely; suckers vertical, Cavendish cultivars. The large assem- tics from the banksii found in Papua originating close to parent plant; pseu- blage of the polymorphic M. acuminata New Guinea, Samoa and northern dostem slender 0.5-2 m high, 3-6 cm in was segregated into various forms. Queensland, Australia. This finding led diameter, light green with purplish These forms were later classified by Allen to suggest the reclassification blotches. Simmonds (1956) into five subspecies: of the Philippine acuminata under the Leaf petioles green with sparse purple (1) malaccensis (Ridl) Simmonds, subspecies errans (Allen 1965). The blotches, 20-42 cm long, petiole canal (2) siamea Simmonds, (3) burmanica adoption of errans conforms with the pri- open with erect margins, slightly winged Simmonds, (4) microcarpa (Beccari) ority of usage principle as Fr. Blanco not clasping the pseudostem, petiole Simmonds, and (5) banksii (F.v. Muell.) first applied the term errans for the margins with purple lines. Leaf blades Simmonds. The characteristic that dis- acuminata of the Philippines in 1837 oblong, up to 1.5 m long, 25-40 cm wide, tinguishes banksii is the presence of whereas F.v. Muell. used banksii in 1863 upper and lower surface light green, dull, hermaphrodite basal flowers rather (Cheesman 1948). The adoption of leaf base pointed, asymmetric, hardly any than female flowers as commonly M. acuminata Colla ssp. errans (Blanco) wax on surface, midrib green, leaf corru- observed in the other Musa species. R. Valmayor, comb. nov., is the first effort gation striped, cigar leaf green. Bract The United Fruit Company and its to formalize the classification and regis- leaves 2, basal portion orange-red, tip banana collection teams sponsored the tration of the new subspecies. green, leaflike. later banana improvement programme, Another major discovery of the banana Inflorescence erect, its peduncle concentrating on Indonesia and the prospection missions in the Philippines 10-15 cm long, smooth, yellow-green; Philippines. The germplasm materials was that alinsanay was a distinct species. flower bud ovoid, 10 cm long, 4-6 cm wide, they gathered were sent to the Lancetilla Peasant farmers had formerly mistaken bract colour orange-red on the outside, Plant Introduction Garden in La Lima, alinsanay with wild abaca (M. textilis paler on the inside, apex yellow, bracts Honduras. Wild M. acuminata and its Nee). Brewbaker and Gorrez (1956) later greatly overlap, lifting 2 or more at a time, edible derivatives were again the center surmised it to be a hybrid between abaca not revolute, smooth, not waxy, strongly of interest because wild M. balbisiana and the local saging matsing (M. acumi- grooved. and its hybrids with M. acuminata intro- nata). However, based on the results of Basal flowers female, 2-3 per bract, duce the gene responsible for starchiness detailed morphological and cytogenetic compound tepal yellow, 2.5-2.8 cm long, in their hybrid progenies. Starchiness is studies, alinsanay significantly differs tip greenish, free tepal cream, closely an undesirable characteristic of bananas from abaca in plant, fruit, and flower appressed to the large orange stigma. in the export market. bract characteristics. Neither can alin- Stamens infertile, 5, short, inserted at the The banana germplasm resources of sanay be accepted as a hybrid of abaca base of the style. Ovary yellow, smooth, Vietnam had not been systematically which has 10 pairs of chromosomes and about 5 mm long, pedicel almost indistin- explored due to the country’s extended saging matsing which has 11 pairs of guishable from ovary. struggle for freedom. But in 1994, chromosomes, because the expected ster- Male bud in advanced flowering erect, Vietnam’s Agricultural Science Institute ile progenies are fully seeded during nor- 10 cm long, 4 cm wide. Bracts orange-red (VASI) received a grant from the mal meiosis. Simmonds rejected the on the external face, paler on the inter- International Network for the hybrid theory, whereas Allen recom- nal face, tip yellow, greatly overlapping, Improvement of Banana and Plantain mended elevation of alinsanay to a dis- several bracts lifted at any one time, per- (INIBAP) to collect, conserve, and eval- tinct species. The author agrees with sistent, turning brown and falling off at a uate indigenous Musa germplasm. Five Allen, and this report is the first effort to later stage. prospection missions were launched describe M. alinsanaya R. Valmayor sp. Male flowers 3 per bract; compound and a large collection was established at nov. as an indigenous Musa species in the tepal yellow-orange, lobe green, longitu- Phu Ho Fruit Research Center in Vinh Philippines. dinally grooved; free tepal yellow- Phu province. Under the leadership of The botanical description of M. exotica orange, rectangular, boat-shaped, Mr. Le Dinh Danh, the author joined the is original while descriptions of alinsanay slightly longer than compound tepal. exploration of the Cuc Phuong Forest and saging matsing have been adapted Fertile stamens 5 as long as compound Reservation, collected and introduced from Brewbaker and Gorrez (1956). The tepal, filaments creamy, translucent. M. exotica R. Valmayor sp. nov. to Los accompanying diagnostic descriptions Anthers yellowish orange; style yellow- Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Much ear- (in Latin and English) rationalize their ish; stigma orange. Mature male flowers lier (1959-60), the author was appointed new status as species and subspecies and brown, persistent at its early stages, as the Filipino counterpart of Paul explain why the given names were dehiscent at maturity. Allen, leader of the United Fruit Co. selected. Photographs provide strong evi- Fruits yellow, few, 10-22, uniseriate, banana prospection mission to the dences of the uniqueness of the three perpendicular to stalk, 2-3 per hand, Philippines. Together, they explored the wild banana species. A note on the cytol- small, 2-3 cm long, 3-4 cm wide, straight, whole country, gathered all sorts of ogy of M. exotica by Mendioro (2001) seedless, angular, apex blunt; style per- Musa germplasm, and cooperated to indicating 10 pairs of chromosomes sup- sistent, brown at maturity.

36 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 Figure 1. Musa exotica R. Valmayor sp. nov. Original accession collected from the Cuc Phuong Forest Reservation, Ninh Binh province, Vietnam on February 17, 1995. Important physiographic data: Figure 2. Musa alinsanaya R. Valmayor sp. nov. (Original photographs from Brewbaker and Gorrez). Latitude, 20°14’- 20°24’ North; Longitude, 105°29’-105°44’ East; Elevation, 200- 650 m; Average rainfall, 2157 mm; Temperature, 24.7°C (max 39°C, min 16.7°C); Soil type, Argillite – Quartz, yellow feralite. Holotypus: Living accession now growing in the garden of the author in Los Baños and at the Horticulture Nursery, University of the Philippines Los Baños. Herbarium specimen held at the Figure 3. Musa acuminata Colla ssp. errans (Blanco) R. Valmayor ssp. nov. Department of Botany, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Male bud in advanced blooming ovoid, men; pericarp about 2 mm thick, green at Philippines Los Baños, CAHUP. more or less acute, the bracts imbricate, ripening, pulp nearly absent, white; fruits outer surface green with purple edges, heavily seeded. Musa alinsanaya R. Valmayor, sp. about two-thirds of the length of the bud, Seeds black, flattened, more or less nov. (Figure 2) not conspicuously ribbed, subacute at smooth, 3-4 mm in diameter and 5-7 mm Plant stooling; pseudostems 2.5-4.0 m tips, glaucous, inner surface deep reddish high. high, 20-30 cm in diameter at base, deep purple at tip and gradually becoming The description of alinsanay was based reddish purple; leaf sheath and petioles lighter at basal end. One bract lifted at a on plants growing along roadsides in the glaucous, green. time, deciduous. Bicol National Park between Daet, Leaf blades oblong, 3-4 m long, 40- Male flowers per bract from 8-12 (aver- Camarines Norte Province and Sipocot, 55 cm wide, truncate at apex, rounded at age 10) in two rows 5-6 cm long; com- Camarines Sur Province, Philippines. base, with unequal basal lamina, green, pound tepal 4.0-4.8 cm long, with an aver- Original description by Dr James L. glaucous, midribs green; petioles 50- age of 4.5 cm; white, tips green with 3 Brewbaker and David D. Gorrez, formerly 60 cm long, their margin almost erect, filiform appendages about 3-4 mm long, of the University of the Philippines Los leaving an open adaxial channel, rather the center filiform usually a little bit Baños. upright, closely appressed to the pseu- shorter; free tepal 2.5-3.0 cm long with an Holotypus: Living accession now main- dostem. average of 2.7 cm, 1.0-1.3 cm wide with an tained at the Abaca Research Center, Inflorescence subhorizontal, its pedun- average of 1.1 cm, boat-shaped, white, Leyte State University in Baybay, Leyte cle and rachis thickly pubescent with apiculate. Province, Philippines. Herbarium speci- brown hairs, flowers in the 10-16 basal Fruit bunch asymmetrical, fruits and men held at the same institution. hands female, upper hands male. pedicels exhibiting marked geotropic Female flowers from 12-23 per hand reflex. Individual fruits very seedy, 10- Musa acuminata Colla ssp. errans (average 16) in two rows; compound tepal 12 cm long, 2.0-2.3 cm in diameter, con- (Blanco) R. Valmayor, comb. nov. white, tips green with filiform spicuously 4-5 angled, abruptly narrowing (Figure 3) appendages; free tepal white, about half at the base into a pedicel of 1.5 cm long, Basionym: Musa troglodytarum L. var. as long as compound tepal. and at the apex into a conspicuous acu- errans Blanco, Fl. Filip. 247. 1837.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 37 Plant stooling freely, habitat sylvan; pound tepal, later exserted, colourless, yellow-orange colour, punctuated at its pseudostems 3.0-4.5 m high, 25-30 cm in stigma and ovary greatly reduced. tip by green lobes. M. exotica can further diameter at height of 50 cm, green or Fruit bunch asymmetrical if borne sub- be differentiated from other species in more or less purplish, black-brown with horizontally, regularly symmetric when the Callimusa series by the bright yellow age; leaf sheaths and petioles, glaucous, pendent; the 300-350 fruits and pedicels colour of immature fruits that are green. Fiber strips poorly, longitudinally exhibiting marked geotropic curvature. attached perpendicular to the erect stalk. weak, stems transversely very tough. Individual fruits very seedy, 8-12 cm long, The term exotica was selected to Leaf blades oblong, 2.5-4.0 m long, 50- 1.3-1.6 cm in diameter, conspicuously 4-5 describe the beauty and uniqueness of 70 cm wide, truncate at tip, rounded at angled when immature but only obso- the new species. base, with basal lamina equal, green, letely angulate when mature, abruptly (In Latin). Musa alinsanaya R. glaucous, mid-ribs green; petioles 50- narrowed at the base into a pedicel of 1- Valmayor sp. nov. A Musa textilis Nee 90 cm long, their margins almost erect, 1.5 cm (minutely pubescent) and at the (nomen commune: abaca) et cetero leaving an open adaxial channel, rather apex into a conspicuous acumen 6-8 mm speciebus seriei Australimusae coloribus lax, closely appressed to pseudostem long; pericarp about 2 mm thick, yellow- bractearum extus viridibus autem intus where margins flare and become more or green at ripeness, pulp nearly absent, atrorubropurpureis distinguenda. Color less blackened and scarious. whitish. ruber basin versus bractearum gradatim Inflorescence subhorizontal or pen- Seeds dull black, commonly more or decrescens. Ex abaca, quae fructus com- dent, its peduncle and rachis thickly less warty, irregularly angulate, strongly parate perpauciores grandioresque pubescent with short brown hairs, basal flattened, 6-8 mm broad and 3-4 mm high. infructescentibus subhorizontales exori- flowers hermaphrodite, the number of The description of saging matsing was entes ferens, alinsanay fructibus hands 15-17, upper hands male. Spadix based on plants growing on the slopes of numerosibus parvis geotropis infructes- acute, green, 50-60 cm long. Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna, centibus pendentibus etiam recedit. Perfect flowers 20-28 per bract in two Philippines. Original description by Musa fehi Bert. ex Viell. (nomen com- rows; 2 or 3 stamens perfectly developed Dr James Brewbaker and David D. Gorrez, mune: Fe’i banana) fructibus grandibus in flowers of all basal bracts, shedding formerly of the University of the esculentis infructescentibus erectibus abundant pollen, remaining stamens Philippines Los Baños. valde distinguit. Musa peekelii more or less rudimentary (staminodal); Neotypus: M. acuminata ssp. errans is Lauterbach (nomen commune: pakel) development of staminodes into well- natural to the forest of Mt. Makiling. differt coloribus bractearum et bracteis formed stamens taking place in the api- Since the original material used by multis (singillatim in alinsanay) simul- cal, 5-7 hands preceding the male flow- Fr. Blanco is no longer available, fresh taneis elevatis. Ephitheton alinsanaya ers. Subtending bracts long (30-35 cm) specimens were collected from Mt. nomen vernaculum alinsanay perpetuat. narrow (9-11 cm), green, conspicuously Makiling. Herbarium specimens held at (In English). M. alinsanaya R. ribbed longitudinally, transversely corru- the Department of Botany, College of Arts Valmayor sp. nov. is distinguished from gated between the ribs, compound tepal and Sciences, University of the abaca, M. textilis Nee and other species about 3.4 cm long, 1.2 cm wide, translu- Philippines Los Baños, CAHUP. in the Australimusa series by the green cent, yellow-tipped, deeply lobed, the outer surface but deep reddish purple outer two lobes acute and 10-11 mm long, Diagnostic characters of the inner surface of its bracts. The red col- central three lobes fused with outer two three wild bananas in Latin oration gradually becomes lighter toward of these appearing as serrations about and English the base. The species can also be differ- 4 mm from tip of central lobe; free tepal (In Latin). M. exotica R. Valmayor, sp. entiated from abaca by the large number translucent, boat-shaped, rounded at tip nov. A musis speciebus popularis orna- of small, geotropically reflexed fruits with faint shoulders, about half as long as mentalis aliis differt alabastro masculino borne on pendent bunches in contrast to compound tepal; stigma broad, flattened, valde imbricato pulchro aurantiorubro. the fewer but larger fruits arising from slightly bifurcate, upper part of style red- Hoc alabastrum masculinum ab illo subhorizontal bunches of abaca. It is dis- speckled; ovary pale green, distinctly 3- musarum pictarum aliarum bracteis sin- tinctly different from Fe’i bananas, 5 angled, glabrous above, minutely pubes- gulis ad apicem flavissimis et distale M. fehi Bert. ex Viell., which bears large cent at base. viridis discedent. Tepalum compositum and edible fruits on erect, upright Male bud in advanced blooming ovoid floris masculi colore vivide flavo-auranto, bunches. M. alinsanaya also differs from to top-shaped, acute, the bracts convo- ad apicem lobis viridibus notat. Ex pakel, M. peekelii Lauterbach, because of lute, reaching the tip of bud; bracts pale specibus aliis seriei Callimusae fructibus its bract color and the habit of lifting only yellowish, green turning red-brown on juvenibus flavissimus ad pedunculum one bract at a time in contrast to pakel fading, longitudinally ribbed, trans- erectum perpendicularibus Musa exotica where many bracts lift simultaneously. versely corrugated between the ribs, praeterea distinguit. Epitheton exotica The term alinsanaya was adapted to per- acute at tips, glaucous, inner surface light pulchritudinem et singularitatem speciei petuate its vernacular name. green. One bract lifted at a time, not con- novae indicat. (In Latin). Musa acuminata Colla ssp. spicuously revolute on fading, deciduous. (In English). M. exotica R. Valmayor is errans (Blanco) R. Valmayor, comb. nov. Male flowers about 20 per bract in two differentiated from other popular orna- Basionym: Musa trogloditarum L. var. rows; tepals similar in length and colour mental bananas by its attractive, orange- errans Blanco, Fl. Filip. 247, 1837 to those of female flowers; compound red, male bud. The markedly imbricate Differt a subspeciebus aliis Musae tepal yellow at tip, lobed, with outer lobes orange-red, male bud is distinguished acuminatae floribus hermaphroditis in only 4-6 mm long tipped with a short fila- from other colourful bananas by the fasciculis florum basilibus contentis. ment, inner 3 lobes equal in length, 3- bright yellow apices of individual bracts Subspecies banksii Papua New Guineae, 4 mm long; free tepal boat-shaped, acutely that are lined with a streak of green at Samoae, et Queenslandiae borealis hunc tipped with more or less prominent shoul- the distal end. The compound tepal of the charactere insolitem etiam praebentem, ders; stamens at first about as long as com- male flower is characterized by a bright, autem subspeciem errans infructescen-

38 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 tibus usque ad 26 manis unaquaeque hand bearing 13 to 17 fruits that are SCIENTIST Vol. 84 No. 3, 325 – 331, usque ad 25 fructibus parvis congestis larger and less compact than those of September 2001 - ISSN 0031-7454 praeditis. Ex contrario, infructescens errans. ■ Classification and Characterization of subspeciei banksii 10-14 manis New Musa sp. and ssp. unaquaeque 13-17 fructibus relative References R.V. Valmayor grandioribusque laxioribus praedita. Allen P.H. 1965. Annotated index of Philippine THE PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURAL (In English). M. acuminata Colla ssp. Musaceae. Philipp Agric 49: 320-411. SCIENTIST kindly authorized its full-text errans (Blanco) R. Valmayor comb. nov. Brewbaker J.L.& D.D. Gorrez. 1956. Classification of publication in this issue of INFOMUSA. Basionym: Musa troglodytarum L. var. Philippine Musae III. (a) Saguing matsing (Musa errans Blanco, Fl. Filip. 247, 1837. banksii F.v.M.); (b) Alinsanay, a putative hybrid This subspecies is differentiated from of M. textilis and M. banksii. Philipp Agric other acuminata subspecies by the pres- 40: 258-268. ence of hermaphrodite flowers in its Cheesman E.E. 1948. Classification of the bananas. Ramon V. Valmayor is President, Philippine basal flower clusters. This characteristic III Critical notes on species. (b) Musa Colla. Kew Agriculture and Resources Research Foundation, is unique also in one other acuminata Bull. No. 1, pp. 17-28. (d) Musa banksii F.v. Muell. Incorporated (PARRFI), c/o the Philippine Council for subspecies, namely, banksii of Papua Kew Bull. No. 2, pp. 154-157. Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research New Guinea, Samoa and northern Mendioro M.S. 2001. Cytology of Musa exotica and Development (PCARRD), Paseo de Valmayor, Queensland, Australia. However, the sub- R. Valmayor sp. nov. Phil Agric Scientist 84(3): 245. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines species errans differs from banksii in Simmonds N.W. 1956. Botanical results of the banana (e-mail: [email protected]). having an extended fruit bunch bearing collecting expedition 1954-1955. Kew Bull Dr Valmayor is also former Professor, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of the up to 26 hands with as many as 25 small, 3: 463-489. Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), 4031 College, Laguna, densely packed fruits per hand. On the Philippines, former Director General of PCARRD and other hand, the fruit bunch of banksii This article has already been published former Regional Coordinator of the Asia and Pacific only produces 10 to 14 hands with each in THE PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURAL Network (ASPNET) of INIBAP.

Thesis

Diversity of Radopholus similis (Cobb, 1893) (Nematoda : Tylenchida)

Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Gent, June 2000

Gamal Abdalla Elbadri RAPD results placed the five populations Karkoug) multiplied poorly on the orna- in one main cluster. mentals. Four banana cultivars were Reproductive fitness was found to vary tested for five populations. The cv. he variability of 19 populations of among populations and was controlled Yangambi Km5 proved its resistance to all Radopholus similis collected by the temperature. At 15°C only three of the populations; cv. Gros Michel was Tworldwide was studied from various populations originating from ornamen- found to be moderately resistant. Pisang angles. Morphological and morphometri- tals reproduced. Maximum reproduction Jari Buaya was found to be as susceptible cal variations were found within and was observed at 25°C. At this tempera- as Grande Naine. None of the populations between populations. Variations occurred ture populations from Chendi and did multiply and inflict damage to Citrus e.g. in total body length, number of lip Calathea showed the highest reproduc- sinensis. The results obtained from the annules, tail shape and length. tion; the lowest reproduction was molecular studies correlate with the bio- Characters separating R. citrophilus observed for populations from Indonesia logical observations. ■ from R. similis were overlapping between and Australia. At 30°C the reproduction the species. HinfI, NdeII and TaqI of ITS declined. Juvenile reproduction obtained regions did not separate the populations. in single female tests ranked the popula- A group composed of populations from tions in the same way. Populations dif- Karkoug, Sennar, Chendi (Sudan), fered also in number of reproducing Calathea and Indonesia was visualized females and in the male:female ratio. Erratum in previous issue by AluI, RsaI and Tru9I restrictions. When inoculated on banana, (INFOMUSA Vol. 10, No. 1) Sequencing of the ITS separated the Anthurium andreanum, or Maranta same group by 10-24 substitutions. The amabilis the populations showed a spe- Estimation of root development same five populations were clustered sep- cific relationship to their host of origin. from shoot traits in plantain and arately for all combinations of alignments Populations isolated from ornamentals banana (Musa sp.) p. 15. We apolo- and tree construction methods. RAPD and black pepper multiplied well on gize for the error in the list of authors analysis resulted in 179 scored bands M. amabilis and A. andreanum but not which should read : G. Blomme, from 10 decamer primers. OPA3 distin- on banana. Populations isolated from R. Swennen, A. Tenkouano, R. Ortiz guished the five populations. The dendro- banana (with exception of populations and D. Vuylsteke. gram constructed on the basis of the from Chendi, Sennar, Kamlin and

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 39 Musanews transition period which should conclude ies carried out by the team, the hitherto with the setting up of the centre’s new rather obscure nomenclature/synonymy Africa management structure in 2002. of the cultivars in this region has been As part of his new function, Dr Tomekpe substantially clarified. No wild (seedy) CRBP becomes CARBAP will strengthen links with the national diploids were found, and the chances that In February 2001, the Centre africain de African agricultural research systems and such varieties exist on the continent are recherches sur bananiers et plantains international organizations as well as now considered extremely remote. For (African centre for banana and plantain enhancing contacts with donors. each accession collected, three suckers research - CARBAP) was created through were obtained and these have been an intergovernmental agreement signed Musa collecting expedition planted at the Tengeru Horticultural after the 2nd West and Central African in Tanzania Research Station, under the supervision Conference of Ministers of Research and A Musa germplasm collecting expedition, of Dr A.S.S. Mbwana. Development (COMRED/AOC). involving Dr Deborah Karamura (INI- As a result of the collecting work, the Following the declaration made at the BAP), Dr Edmond De Langhe (KULeuven team proposed a theory of how African first Conference of the COMRED/AOC in University, Belgium) and Dr Alliy Highland bananas in general may have Yaoundé (12-16 January 1999), announc- Mbwana (ARI, Tanzania) took place in been generated, with significant implica- ing the regional status of the Centre Tanzania in July. The expedition was tions for genetic, as well as cultural and régional de recherches sur bananiers et organized by INIBAP, with support from historical aspects. The team was also able plantains (CRBP) for the benefit of all IITA and the Rockefeller Foundation. The to collect much information regarding research institutions within West and expedition was motivated by (1) a serious specific banana management practices Central Africa adhering to its objectives lack of knowledge about banana cultivars and utilization processes. Several produc- and its missions, the Governments of in the highlands of East-Africa other than tion practices and many attractive prepa- Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Great Lakes region, and (2) the grow- rations –of immature and/or mature fruits Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon ing risk that unexplored yet potentially - that do not exist in the Great Lakes and Equatorial Guinea agreed to trans- important material for genetic improve- region were encountered. On the other form CRBP into an African Research ment could be lost due to changing farm hand, many of the preparations typical for Centre for Bananas and Plantains management practices in the region. The the latter region are apparently not known (Centre africain de recherches sur expedition covered the slopes of the in the visited zones. The team noted the bananiers et plantains - CARBAP). Kilimanjaro and the Usambara Hills and, considerable cultural enrichment which CRBP was established at Njombé to a lesser extent, the South Pare Hills. could be achieved through mutual intro- (Cameroon) by a convention signed on The expedition proved to be most suc- duction of these practices and uses. the 25 October 1989 between the Ministry cessful. Twenty-one interesting cultivars A number of recommendations were of Scientific Research and Technology were collected, of which 10 are most made by the collecting team. These are (MINREST) of the Republic of Cameroon probably newly acquired diploids of great as follows: and the Centre de coopération interna- potential interest for genetic improve- • That the term ‘AAA-EA’ sensu stricto tionale en recherche agronomique pour ment of the African Highland Bananas. (AAA-EA s.s.) be applied only to the le développement (CIRAD, France). The An entirely new group of AAA-triploids AAA-EA of the Great Lakes region, as new centre, CARBAP, will automatically was identified, which was called the previously identified and described inherit the overall CRBP patrimony. ‘Ilalyi’-group by the team. No component (Karamura 1999), and that the term CARBAP is mandated to improve the of this group has ever been detected ‘AAA-EA’ sensu lato (AAA-EA s.l.) be production of plantains and other locally before in the Great Lakes region. applied to cover all of the AAA-EA cul- consumed bananas to meet the needs of a Furthermore as a result of linguistic stud- tivars in the broadest sense. growing population through the development of a sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. In order to achieve this aim, CARBAP has a triple function of research, development and training. This centre which has a regional man- date, will develop its activities taking into account the different aspects of the com- modity chain (production, commercialization and transformation) as well as with the various participants in this chain (producers, operators and consumers). CARBAP is therefore mandated to address the various regional problems as well as agronomic and economic constraints which limit the production of bananas and plantains in the countries within the two sub-regions of West and Central Africa. On 11 June, 2001, Dr Kodjo Tomekpe, Musa geneticist, was nominated as Director of the new centre during the Drs D. Karamura and M. Mbwana learning from a farmer during their collecting mission in Tanzania.

40 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 • That the same team organize a brief the phytoliths of Musa and Ensete was of ASARECA in order to align their activi- visit to the field collection at fruiting carried out with material from the Royal ties with the objectives and purpose of stage (about August 2002), in order to Botanical Garden of Meise and ASARECA. In the case of BARNESA, this finalize the identification and classifi- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven both in resulted in a series of consultations and cation of the accessions. The results of Belgium. Both genera have phytoliths workshops involving various stakehold- this task would form the base for dupli- with a characteristic volcano shape. ers, with the view of realigning BAR- cation at international level of the However, Musa species are distinguished NESA’s original technology-focused strat- definitively identified new accessions. by the concave nature of the slope, protu- egy with that of the market-oriented • That a second, similar expedition be berances from the basal part and a approach of ASARECA. effected in the Taita Hills and the smooth but sometimes crenated rim. The Following the 2001 BARNESA Steering Gikuyu area in Kenya, and a third one phytoliths from the refuse pit showed fea- Committee meeting, a Select Committee on the highlands in Mbeya and tures characteristic of Musa. was appointed to review and finalize the Morogoro in Tanzania Edible bananas are seedless and their BARNESA strategy. As a result of the • That local agronomy officers explore propagation outside their native area is work of the Committee, the goal, purpose, further for new cultivars in the zone necessarily anthropogenic. This is the and outputs of BARNESA have been visited by the team, after getting duly first substantial evidence to suppose defined as follows: acquainted with the basic diversity as that rainforest-dwellers were practising it can be studied at the Tengeru station cultivation in humid tropical Africa more Super goal field collection. than 2000 years ago. This early farming Increased contribution of bananas to • That the ploidy of all the presumed of plantains provides context to the pre- food security and economic growth diploids collected be assessed through sent-day existence of a secondary centre within Eastern and Central Africa (ECA). flow cytometry/chromosome counting of diversity of plantain in West Africa and at the earliest possible convenience. may explain the increase in village den- Goal sity in the forest environment at this To contribute to increased and sustainable Reference time and the early expansion of Bantu agricultural productivity in the region. Karamura, D.A. 1999. Numerical taxonomic studies of people. It also potentially agrees with De the East African Highland bananas (Musa AAA- Langhe et al. (1996) hypothesis, that Purpose East Africa) in Uganda. (PhD Thesis, Dept. of plantains reached the east African coast Appropriate market-oriented technolo- Agricultural Botany, University of Reading, January by 3000 BP. gies for the production of bananas and 1998). INIBAP, Montpellier, France. 192 pp. their products adopted and utilized. Copies of the full report of the collecting Reference expedition are available on request from INIBAP De Langhe E.A.L., R. Swennen & D. Vuylsteke. 1996. Outputs headquarters. Plantain in early Bantu world. Azania (29-30). • BARNESA consolidated as a regional Based on: Mbida Mindzie C., H. Doutrelepont, network in ECA region; Evidence of banana cultivation in L. Vrydaghs, R. Swennen, R.J. Swennen, • The establishment of a sustainable central Africa 2500 years ago H. Beeckman, E. De Langhe & P. De Maret. 2001. commercialized banana sector in ECA Banana phytoliths found in refuse pits in First archaeological evidence of banana cultivation facilitated; archaeological sites around Yaoundé, in central Africa during the third millennium before •Technologies for sustainable produc- Cameroon, have been dated to 2500 BP present. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany tion and postharvest utilization that according to researchers at the 10: 1-6. address users’ needs disseminated; University of Yaoundé and the Royal • National Agricultural Research Museum of Central Africa in Belgium. Revision of BARNESA’s strategy Systems (NARS) capacity and linkages This is the earliest unequivocal proof of BARNESA was established as the with relevant partners strengthened; agriculture in central Africa, indicating regional banana research network for • Banana research and development in that Musa species moved out of Asia, the Eastern and Southern Africa in 1994 and the ECA region effectively coordinated. centre of origin of the genus, and across INIBAP has been providing coordination the Indian Ocean a millennium earlier and secretariat support to the network Commercialization than previously thought. since 1997. BARNESA is one of several BARNESA will assist in the development The phytoliths, microscopic particles networks operating in the region under of a commercialized banana sector by of silicon found on plant leaves, were the auspices of ASARECA (Association documenting and analyzing the existing found in Nkang, one of the large rainfor- for Strengthening Agricultural Research and potential production and market est settlements under study, along with in Eastern and Central Africa). The opportunities for bananas and banana potsherds, polished stone tools, iron slag, strategic objective of ASARECA is “to pro- products in the region, taking into con- charcoal, charred Canarium and Elaeis mote regional economic growth by devel- sideration the changes that have taken nuts and occasional animal bones. They oping, introducing and disseminating place in the recent past. These changes were present at the bottom of a refuse pit agricultural technologies which both include economic restructuring at and encrusted on the base of a vessel. The create markets and respond to prevail- national and regional levels, liberaliza- pit was dated to 2490-2400 BP according ing and future economic opportunities tion of trade, and formation of economic to the 14C content of three charcoal sam- for new technologies as well as main- blocks such as COMESA (Common ples, showing strong correspondence taining the long-term sustainability of Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) with the dates of other similar sites in the the agricultural resource base”. With the and the East African Community. The area. adoption of the ASARECA strategy in diverse roles of development organiza- Several species of Ensete, the only 1997, it became necessary to review the tions, such as non-governmental organi- other genus in Musaceae, are endemic to goals and objectives of networks and pro- zations (NGOs) and community-based tropical Africa. A comparative study of grammes operating under the umbrella organizations (CBOs), Women Groups,

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 41 etc., will also be documented. Analysis of ter to keep the stakeholders informed of • Emphasis on products that create mar- market opportunities will include assess- new developments in the banana indus- kets or respond to existing market ment of the impact of demographic try within and outside the region. At the needs; trends such as population growth and national level BARNESA will encourage •Ensuring congruence of regional activi- structure and urbanization on banana and assist where necessary the respec- ties to national priorities; consumption. Experience with commer- tive NARS to put in place or strengthen a • Participation of stakeholders in the cial banana farming in countries such as national banana research and develop- planning and execution of activities at South Africa will be used in laying out of ment coordination mechanism. The key the local level; strategies for market-oriented banana objective here is to ensure participation • Gender consciousness in all activities production in the region. and ownership of the banana research of the network; Since both table and green-cooking and development agenda by all stake- • The special needs of disadvantaged bananas depend largely on urban mar- holders, including representatives of groups will be specifically addressed in kets, understanding urban consumer research and extension services, farmers all aspects of project implementation; market requirements will be pivotal to a and women organizations, processors, •Timely execution of the agreed market-oriented production of the crop transport/marketing associations, private research agenda with due considera- in the region. Another emerging market sector, NGOs, University researchers, and tions to stated milestones, outputs and for banana is banana-based processed planning officials in Government measurable indicators. products (chips, crisps, figs, juice blends, Ministries. At the regional level, member- and liquor) and the flour products (cake, ship of the Steering Committee will be The scope of BARNESA bread and biscuits). Processed products broadened to include representatives of Unlike other networks and pro- probably constitute the single most stakeholders in the private sector such as grammes of ASARECA, BARNESA was important but yet to be exploited aspect commercial farming, industrial process- formed as a research network serving of commercial banana production and ing and marketing. Linkages will be countries in Southern Africa as well as marketing. Market opportunities for the developed with NGOs, CBOs and govern- Eastern and Central Africa. It is felt that vegetative parts of the banana plant are ment institutions associated with policy- BARNESA has still a lot to gain from very limited. Probably the most promis- making and technology transfer, and with direct association with countries in ing use of the pseudostem is fibre produc- advanced research institutions for access southern Africa. BARNESA will therefore, tion, which is the foundation for the fast- to genetic materials and technologies. while serving primarily the countries of growing handicraft industry in all Within the family of ASARECA net- ECA region, maintain strong linkages banana-growing countries of the region. works and programmes, BARNESA will with countries of Southern Africa espe- collaborate with: cially in its activities of capacity-building, Technology development and capacity • Eastern and Central African institutional linkages and sourcing of strengthening Programme for Agricultural Policy technological information. The focus in this area will be to promote Analysis (ECAPAPA) on socioeconomic regional collaboration as a means of and policy related research issues; Asia and the Pacific enhancing cost-efficiency in identifying • FOODNET (an ASARECA postharvest and addressing the priority constraints to network funded by USAID) on product Managing banana bunchy top an integrated approach to banana pro- development; disease in Pakistan duction, marketing and utilization within • African Highland Initiative (AHI), Bananas are an important fruit crop in the region. As part of this objective, BAR- Agroforestry Research Networks for Pakistan, where around 100 000 tonnes NESA will also catalyze and support Africa (AFRENA) and the Soil and are produced annually from an area of research on critical gaps in the produc- Water Management Network (SWM- more than 26 000 hectares. The majority tion and marketing chain that are identi- NET) on natural resources manage- of the crop is produced in the Sindh fied as a priority at regional level. BAR- ment; Province which lies between 67-71°N and NESA will also work with NARS to build • Eastern African Plant Genetic 24-28°E. A number of varieties are grown up human capacity through regional Resources Network (EAPGREN) on in Pakistan, but the most common (90% training courses and, where feasible, genetic resources; and with of production) is Dwarf Cavendish, exchange visits and attachment of per- • East and Central Africa Bean Research known locally as Basrai. sonnel to commercial production, pro- Network (ECABREN) and ASARECA- During the early 1990s, banana bunchy cessing and marketing institutions within Animal Agriculture Research Network top virus spread rapidly in Pakistan. In and outside the region. (A-AARNET) on baseline surveys and some districts, more than 60% of the crop capacity building activities. was infected and production declined by Coordination of banana research 90%. To overcome this problem, efforts and development Principles of implementation have been directed towards the produc- BARNESA activities are directed by a In fulfilling the above objectives, BAR- tion of clean (virus-free) planting mater- Steering Committee, members of which NESA will be guided by the following ial of variety Basrai using tissue culture. guide participating national teams and principles: Experiments showed that the best results represent them at regional planning •Within the concept of a holistic were obtained using explants of 4-6 mm meetings. The secretariat will organize approach to banana research and which were initiated in liquid medium. biennial meetings of stakeholders to development, including crop manage- For multiplication, explants were trans- review progress and suggest new regional ment technologies that enhance sus- ferred to solid medium containing initiatives. The secretariat will also play tainability of the natural resource base, 5.0 mg/l BAP and an average of 6-8 shoots key role in establishing and maintaining BARNESA will concentrate its efforts were produced every four weeks. After in linkages with other networks and institu- on the critical areas that are most vitro rooting using IBA, the plants were tions and will publish a regular newslet- likely to catalyze change; hardened in a greenhouse for 8 weeks.

42 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 Once the plants had 6-8 leaves they were Table 1. Biochemical analysis of fruit from Red, green and other locally available planted in the field. The survival rate of cultivars. plants using this procedure was almost 100%. Total sugar Protein Name of the cultivar Reducing sugar (%) Total carbohydrate (%) More information is available from Aish Mohammad et al. Agricultural Biotechnology Red Banana (AAA) 35.21 36.98 32.90 Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Green variant (AAA) 34.54 35.14 32.84 Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan. Rasthali (AAB) 45.31 41.35 23.54 Biochemical analysis of Musa cv. Robusta (AAA) 38.39 41.72 21.64 Red (AAA) and its green variant Nendran (AAB) 40.38 51.67 25.21 The banana cultivar ‘Red’ (AAA) is widely cultivated and can be found in most banana-growing countries of the world. In India, it is particularly important in Table 2. Morphometry of Polytus mellerborgii in relation to banana weevil borers. the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu Body length Body width Length of rostrum and Kerala. Because of the attractive size Insect (mm) (mm) (mm) and colour, the fruits always fetch a high Banana rhizome weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus 11.0 3.5 2.5 price in the markets in India. During the Banana stem weevil, Odoiporus longicollis 16.0 5.5 5.0 multiplication of Red banana by micro- Small banana weevil, Polytus mellerborgii 4.0 1.5 1.5 propagation, a small number of green variant plants were produced. In these plants, both the vegetative parts and the pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, fruit bunch remained green throughout viruses, insects and nematodes. The short the life of the plant, with the fruits devel- notes below report on recent observa- oping a yellowish tint during ripening. In tions carried out in Tamil Nadu by scien- the normal plants, the characteristic red tists of NRCB, the Indian National colour started developing on the leaves Research Centre for Banana. and petioles within one week of trans- planting tissue cultured plants into pots Small banana weevil: Polytus and the plant and fruit remained red mellerborgii Boheman (Dryophthoridae: until maturity. Green variants were pro- Curculionoidea) duced when explants were inoculated on B. Padmanaban, M. Kandasamy MS medium supplemented with 0.1mg/l and S. Sathiamoorthy NAA and 8mg/l BA, whereas explants inoculated on MS medium supplemented Among the 28 borer pests associated with Figure 1. Magnified view of (a) Banana rhizome with 0.1mg/l NAA and 8mg/l kinetin did bananas and plantains worldwide (Seshu weevil and (b) Small banana weevil. not produce green variants. The addition Reddy et al. 1994), banana weevil borers of kinetin instead of BA also had the (banana rhizome weevil, Cosmopolites effect of reducing the multiplication rate sordidus Germar and banana stem wee- commonly known as small banana weevil. of the plants in tissue culture. vil, Odoiporus longicollis Oliver) are This weevil was first recorded in China Biochemical analyses of total protein, widely distributed and cause important (Zhou and Wu 1988), though this is the reducing sugars and total carbohydrate economic losses (Dutt and Maiti 1972, first record of its occurrence in India. were carried out on the ripened fruit pulp Gold 1994, Padmanaban and Sundararaju Thanks are due to Dr C. Lyal, Insect of Red banana, its green variant and 1999). Information Services, Entomology other locally available cultivars – During a field visit to Coimbatore, a Department, The Natural History Rasthali (Silk AAB), Robusta (AAA) and major banana-growing area in Tamil Museum, London, for identification of the Nendran (Plantain AAB). The results are Nadu, a very small weevil was noticed at insect. presented in Table 1. It can be seen that the top of the rhizome as well as in the the protein content was higher in Red leaf sheaths of the leading commercial Banana beetle: Sybra praeusta Pascoe banana compared to the others, and the cultivars French Plantain (Nendran (Cerambycidae: Coleoptera) total carbohydrate content was lower. AAB) and Poovan (Mysore AAB). The B. Padmanaban, M. Kandasamy, Reducing sugar content was high in weevil was found to feed and survive on P. Sundararaju and S. Sathiamoorthy Rasthali, while the total carbohydrate rotting rhizomes. Symptoms of damage content was greatest in Nendran. Little due to weevil feeding were also noticed Bananas and plantains in India are depre- difference in biochemical analysis was on leaf sheaths. The weevil was also dated by 30 species of insects (Wadhi and found between Red banana and the green recorded in the cut rhizomes removed Batra 1964 ). The banana weevil borers variant. after the harvest. On average 2-3 weevils (banana stem weevil, Odoiporus longi- Further information is available from Asalatha S. per rhizome and 2-4 weevils per plant were collis Oliver and banana rhizome weevil, Nair, Department of Botany, University of collected. The weevil looks like a minia- Cosmopolites sordidus Germar) are the Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, Kerala, India. ture banana rhizome weevil (Figure 1). most important pests of banana causing The morphometry of the new insect in serious economic damage. New pests of banana reported comparison to the banana weevil borers Surveys undertaken during March 2001 in Tamil Nadu, India is presented in Table 2. The Natural in the banana plantations near Banana, the most important fruit crop of History Museum, London has identified it Jeyapuram (Tiruchirapalli district) and India, is prone to attack by different as Polytus mellerborgii Boheman, also the NRCB farm revealed that in patches

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 43 Robusta (AAA). Detailed examination of the roots revealed the presence of about 86-105 matured cysts and 12-15 juveniles from 250 g soil, and 22-29 white females per 10 g of roots. Each matured cyst contained about 18-47 viable eggs. Inoculation of banana roots with second stage larvae resulted in the penetration of roots and development of white females with egg sacs, filled with viable eggs. After closer observation of their morphological parameters such as vulval cone, white females and juveniles, the species was identified as Heterodera oryzicola Rao & Jayaprakash, 1978. The white females attach and feed on the fibrous secondary and tertiary roots by modifying the host cells (syncytia). The primary roots were devoid of white females. The finding clearly indicates the need for an intensive survey programme throughout the banana-growing belts of Tamil Nadu for cost-effective manage- Figure 2. Cerambycid beetle, Sybra praeusta Pascoe. a. Adult beetle; b. Grub; c. Pupa - ventral view; d. Pupa – dorso-lateral view; e. Grub feeding inside the ment of the cyst nematode. galleries; f-g. Leaf sheath showing feeding damage at outer and inner side (see gallery and frass material). References related to the section banana plants were exhibiting unusual parts of Tamil Nadu. Affected plants, how- on banana pests in Tamil Nadu yellowing and consequent drying of leaf ever, show sudden yellowing of outer Charles J.S.K & T.S. Venkitesan. 1984. New hosts of sheaths. Further examination of the leaf leaves resulting in a reduction of func- Heterodera oryzicola Rao & Jayaprakash, 1978, in sheath showed extensive gallery forma- tional leaves as the plant ages. Kerala, India. Indian J. Nematol. 14: 181-182. tion along with deposition of frass mater- Thanks are due to Dr Sharon Shute, Charles J.S.K & T.S. Venkitesan. 1994. ial (Figures 2 f-g). Grubs were present Insect Information Services, Department Histopathological changes in banana cv. Nendran inside the gallery and their feeding was of Entomology, The Natural History roots parasitized with cyst nematode, Heterodera restricted to the two outermost leaf Museum, London, for identifying the oryzicola. Pp. 216-217 in Proc. Kerala Sci. Congr., sheaths. The grubs were reared on the insect. January, 1994, Thiruvananthapuram, India. original leaf sheath in special containers Duffy E.A.J. 1968. A monograph of the immature in the NRCB laboratory. The yellowish Cyst nematode: Heterodera oryzicola stages of Oriental timber beetles (Cerambycidae). white larva is typical of Cerambycid grub Rao & Jayaprakash, 1978 British Museum Natural History, London. (Figures 2 b, 2e). The larval duration was P. Sundararaju, I. Cannayane and Dutt N. & B.B. Maiti. 1972. Bionomics of the banana 16 days under laboratory conditions. The S. Sathiamoorthy pseudostem borer Odoiporus longicollis Oliver grubs pupated as a yellowish orange (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Indian J. exarate pupa (Figures 2c, 2d). Beetles The cyst nematode Heterodera oryzicola, Entomology 34(1): 20-30. with yellowish grey markings and two reported for the first time in Kerala on Gold C.S. 1994. Banana weevil: Ecology, pest status black spots on the elytra (Figure 2a) banana cv. Nendran, was found to cause and prospects for integrated control with empha- emerged from the pupa. The beetle was severe root damage resulting in serious sis on East Africa. Pp. 49-74 in Proceedings of a identified as Sybra sp. following Duffy economic losses (Charles and Venkitesan Symposium on biological control in tropical crop (1968). With the help of the Natural 1984). Koshy et al. (1987) reported its habitats. Third International Conference on History Museum, London, the exact iden- widespread occurrence on banana cv. Tropical Entomology, 30 Oct.-4 Nov. 1994, Nairobi, tity of the beetle was found as Sybra Njalipoovan from Goa, India. Charles and Kenya (S.K. Saini, ed.). ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya. praeusta Pascoe. Infestation of this Venkitesan (1994) reported that an ini- Koshy P.K., V.K. Sosamma & J.R. Faleiro. 1987. Cerambycid beetle was noticed on tial inoculum of 100 to 1000 viable cysts Occurrence of Heterodera oryzicola on banana in 7-month-old cultivars such as Nendran per plant at planting time could reduce Goa. Indian J. Nematol. 17: 334. (French plantain AAB), Pisang Awak the bunch weight by 20.5 to 56.6 per cent. Padmanaban B & P. Sundararaju. 1999. Occurrence (ABB), Agnisagar (AAA) and Dudh Sagar So far this nematode had been found to of banana weevil borers. (Curculionidae: (AAB). be confined in reclaimed paddy lands of Coleoptera). Insect Environment 5: 135. It is reported that Sybra species are dis- Kerala, with reports of stray occurrences Seshu Reddy K.V., J.S. Prasad & R.A. Sikora. 1994. tributed in India and Sri Lanka. They are on banana from Goa. No information was Biointensive management of crop borers of polyphagous beetles developing on fruits, available on the occurrence and distribu- banana in Proceedings of a Symposium on biolog- pods, fleshy stems and tubers of a wide tion of the cyst nematode on banana in ical control in tropical crop habitats. Third range of plant species. Sybra praeusta Tamil Nadu, where banana is grown International Conference on Tropical resembles Sybra ceylonensis Breu., which extensively. Entomology, 30 Oct.-4 Nov. 1994, Nairobi, Kenya is found infesting Calotropis procera. During the routine examination of field (S.K. Saini, ed.). ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya. S. praeusta, at present, is found affecting soil samples in banana experimental Wadhi S.R. & H.N. Batra. 1964. Tropical and subtrop- bananas and plantains sporadically and plots at the NRCB Farm, Podavur, a large ical fruit pests in Entomology in India (N.C. Pant, does not appear to be distributed in other number of cysts were observed in cv. ed.). Entomological Society of India, New Delhi.

44 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 Zhou S & X. Wu. 1988. A species of Curculionidae first speaker Gus Molina, Regional Coordinator tion in the name of the world banana recorded in China. J. Zhong Kai. Agrotech. Coll., for INIBAP - Asia and Pacific, presented community. China 1(1): 33-34. papers covering a range of technical Here is a word by his colleagues at For further information, please contact the issues concerning the management of Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, with relevant authors at: National Research Centre for banana germplasm and the production of whom he worked for a large part of his Banana (NRCB), Tiruchirapalli 620017, Tamil Nadu, India. clean planting material. The QBAN guide- career. lines were reviewed and the impact of the Formosana: a new Cavendish recent black Sigatoka incursion in Homage to Kenneth Shepherd by variety released in Taiwan Australia was discussed. Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura The breeding programme of the Taiwan Source: Sharon Hamill, QDPI, Maroochy Research “Pacovan Ken” is the name of a new Banana Research Institute has created a Station, PO Box 5083, SCMC, Nambour, 4560 banana variety launched by Embrapa Australia, Phone +61 07 54449639 Fax +61 07 new banana variety, ‘Formosana’, which 54412235. Email: [email protected] Mandioca e Fruticultura in homage to is resistant to Fusarium wilt. This dis- the eminent international scientist ease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum Latin America Kenneth Shepherd, one of the breeders f.sp. cubense (Foc) race 4, is a major and the Caribbean of the variety. problem in Taiwan and the new variety Kenneth Shepherd was born in represents a breakthrough in banana Launching of Musacol England in 1927. After gaining a brilliant breeding. Derived from the wilt-suscepti- The constitutive agreement of the Red degree in agriculture and botany at ble variety ‘Giant Cavendish’, its Colombiana de Investigación y Durham University, England, in 1947, somaclone ‘Formosana’ has a higher level Desarrollo de Plátano y Banano Ken started his career by working on the of resistance to Foc than ‘Tai-Chiao No. (Colombian Network for Plantain and genus Solanum for two years in 1’, the wilt-tolerant variety released for Banana Research and Development - Cambridge. After this initial phase, he commercial production in 1992, and bet- Musacol) was signed on 3rd August 2001 dedicated the rest of his career to the ter yield characteristics than ‘Giant in Armenia, Colombia. Members of the banana, which became his favourite Cavendish’. ‘Formosana’ is scheduled for network include national entities such as ‘muse’. He worked from 1950 to 1960 in release for commercial planting as of Corpoica, Fedeplátano and several the banana breeding programme at the January 2002, to replace both ‘Tai-Chiao Colombian universities. Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture No. 1’ and ‘Tai-Chiao No. 3’, two resistant The objective of Musacol is to orga- in Trinidad, and then from 1960 to 1980 varieties already released and planted on nize, coordinate and catalyze institu- in the Jamaican Banana Board’s breed- about 1600 ha of infested farms in south- tional efforts in research, development ing programme, where he created severn Taiwan. The commercialization of and technology transfer in a dynamic, eral genotypes including the hybrid M53. Formosana is expected to have a great systematic and concerted way, with the The latter was then added to the impact on Taiwan banana industry aim of solving the technological limita- Embrapa genebank and was the origin through reduction of losses due to Foc tions of the plantain and banana cultiva- of the variety ‘Pacovan Ken’. The attacks, yield increase, and more even tion. Through this mechanism, Musacol programme also developed other ripening than with ‘Giant Cavendish’, will generate practical and scientific hybrids such as “Calypso’, ‘Bucanier” thus leading to better competitiveness of recommendations for improving the pro- and “Ambrosia”, all of which were bred Taiwan bananas on the export market. duction, processing and commercializa- by this great scientist. For further information, contact: C. Hwang, tion of the crop, garanteeing the sus- From December 1981 onwards, Ken Taiwan Banana Research Institute, PO Box 18, tainibility and equity of the production continued his career in Brazil as a Chiuju, Pingtung 90403, Taiwan. systems. The Board of Musacol designated Third Australian QBAN workshop Alfredo Rodríguez Saavedra to act as the The Quality Banana Approved Nursery first Executive Director of Musacol for a (QBAN) scheme is an important two-year period. Australian national initiative to ensure More information on Musacol website at: that the banana industry is provided with www.musacol.org.co uniform, disease and pest-free planting material. Its aim is to prevent the intro- In Memoriam duction, movement, and spread of notifi- able pests and diseases of bananas. QBAN Ken Shepherd plantlets are grown only from virus tested INIBAP is very sad to inform readers of and registered tissue culture material INFOMUSA of the death on 16 October from QBAN accredited facilities. 2001 of Kenneth Shepherd, a British The QBAN scheme was conceived in researcher well known in Musa genetic 1993 and is now a growing alliance of 20 improvement circles, and wishes to pre- laboratories and nurseries providing tis- sent its most sincere codolences to his sue culture plantlets or hardened nursery wife, Eileen, and children. plants. Technical and regulatory support Having worked on the same plant for is provided principally by the Queensland over 40 years, Ken made an immense Department of Primary Industries contribution not only in cytogenetics (QDPI). In June 2001 a QBAN workshop (Shepherd 1999) and improvement but was held in North Queensland at the also in taxonomy. In 1994, in recognition Ken Shepherd in the FHIA Musa collection at the occasion of the first meeting of the Musa Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture. of his scientific contribution, INIBAP breeders’ network held at FHIA, Honduras in Researchers from QDPI and invited presented Ken with a plaque of apprecia- May 1994.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 45 consultant with Embrapa, where he set We shall always remember Kenneth and quite irreplaceable. It was a sombre up a breeding programme. Shepherd as a model of competence, moment when this great career ended. Ken then played a true role of leader at modesty, abnegation, impartiality and the head of a team of young researchers altruism. MusaForum and technicians by passing on, with his Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura natural modesty, all the knowledge that November 2001 Last letter from Prof. he possessed. His most precious N.W. Simmonds to INFOMUSA moments were his field trips to accom- Reference In a recent article in this periodical, pany the installation of a trial, when he Shepherd K. 1999. Cytogenetics of the genus Musa. Manzur Macias presented some neat helped with planting, cleaning and trans- INIBAP, Montpellier, France. drawings and evidence to the effect that planting, or to attentively monitor the poorly suckering bananas could some- growth of the new genotypes. He was Norman W. Simmonds times at least be provoked into better then as happy as when he smoke a good Norman Simmonds, author of every suckering by mutilating the growing areas Bahia cigar, one of his weaknesses. banana researchers reference book, of the corms. He worked on FHIA-20 and Throughout his time spent at “Bananas” in the Longman Tropical found that mutilation worked for up to 4 Embrapa, Ken played a vital role in the Agriculture Series (1959, 1966 and with cycles. He cites examples from other breeding programme, in particular by R.H. Stover in 1987) and also “The evolu- bananas showing the same effect but not introducing genetic material from other tion of bananas”, from the really striking example of Ensete countries, a complex, difficult task that has died on This genus is normally non-suckering and, was only possible because of his con- January 4, at the though it bears plenty of buds, cannot be tacts and his credibility with the inter- age of 79 years. vegetatively propagated. However, the national bodies working on Musa. Simmond’s career people of the Sidamo area have invented a Brazil thus possesses today the second spanned more method whereby elderly corms are hol- active genebank in the world including than five decades, lowed out and the cavities packed with soil the most important parents—an focussing on plant and dung, whereupon buds grow well unequalled treasure. breeding, taxon- enough for practical propagation. The Kenneth Shepherd published more than omy, economic Sidamo people eat the starchy foods that 50 books that are references for the world botany and tropi- are produced and recognize clones. banana community. Unfortunately, much cal farming systems. His expertise on Indeed, Ensete, with a perennial cabbage, other work has remained unpublished. bananas, sugar cane and potatoes was is their staple food, but they also keep The first concrete result of his work in particularly well recognized. Major col- diverse stocks. It will be interesting to see Brazil was the launching of the ‘Pioneira’ lecting trips in East Africa and Asia and whether many new cooking bananas cultivar in 1992. the Pacific during the 1940s and 50s require this kind of trick to facilitate prop- Difficulties arose for the renewal of allowed him to develop a deep under- agation. It would be well worth study. his contract when he was working as standing of the origin and spread of consultant for Embrapa. In the early bananas. In 1955, together with Ken Reference 1990s, he even remained for two years Shepherd, he created the genome-based Manzur Macias D. 2001. In situ mass propagation of without being paid his fees. On his system of nomenclature for cultivated the FHIA-20 banana hybrid using benzylaminop- departure from Brazil in 1994, he left bananas (using A and B for acuminata urine. INFOMUSA 10(1):3-4. behind him a well trained team capable and balbisiana genomes) as an alterna- Further reading: of continuing the work on promising tive to the Linnaean system to reflect Simmonds N.W. 1958. Ensete cultivation in the south- genotypes. One of these was “Pacovan more effectively levels of ploidy and ern highlands of Ethiopia. Tropical Agriculture Ken”, launched in November 2001 as a hybridization. In his lifetime, he pub- (Trinidad) 35:303-307. national crop plant. The new variety is lished 48 scientific papers on banana Smeds H. 1955. The Ensete planting culture of east- not only more productive that the alone, covering many subjects from ern Sidamo, Ethiopia. Acta geogr. Paris 13(4): 40. ‘Pacovan’ variety traditionally grown in genetics to the development of fruit and the Nordeste in Brazil, but it is also germination of seeds. Right until his last INIBAP news resistant to yellow and black Sigatokas weeks Simmonds actively participated in and to Panama disease, the three curses agricultural research, regularly interact- Catching up with relatively of banana around the world. ing with researchers and responding to new faces We are sure that this sincere homage to new developments through his frequent Three members of staff have joined Kenneth Shepherd, using the short form letters published in journals; one of his INIBAP regional offices in the past year of his name (Ken) in the name of the new last letters is published in the and have escaped introduction in INFO- variety, is not much in comparison with MusaForum section of this issue of MUSA. We take the chance now to rectify the immense heritage that he has left INFOMUSA (see below). He was a strong the situation. to the Brazilian and world banana com- supporter of the concept of INIBAP, and Helen Namatovu Byarugaba is a pro- munities. followed avidly our activities through gramme assistant at the INIBAP office in When we chose to name this hybrid in publications such as INFOMUSA, fre- Kampala, Uganda. She took up the post in his honour, we tried to contact him in quently providing eloquent criticism. He February this year, coming with a back- Portugal, where he was spending his made his disapproval of the investment ground in business and marketing. Helen retirement, to invite him to the launching in research on biotechnology well known. is Ugandan. She graduated from Makerere of the new variety on 30 November 2001. This outspoken voice will be missed. But University with a degree in Commerce and Unfortunately, we then received the sad it is his ground-paving and thorough work has gained experience in banking and cus- news that he had died on 16 October 2001 on banana and in agricultural botany as a tomer management through a training at the age of 74. whole which renders him unforgettable course run by Barclays Bank in Uganda.

46 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 it easier for them to reply to questions from banana information users at the regional level and will give them increased effectiveness in querying the MUSALIT database (bibliographical references) and BRIS (Banana research information system). They were also trained to use the internal database managing the distribution list, an essential tool for the sending of the publications produced by INIBAP. The week spent in Montpellier was the occasion for useful exchange between regional office and INIBAP headquarters staff.

Meeting banana farmers INIBAP Regional programme assistants at INIBAP HQ (from left to right: Siifa Lwasa, Lisette Vega, on the big screen Helen Namatovu Byarugaba and Versalynn Roa). INIBAP’s first venture with the moving image has resulted in a swift-moving Together with Siifa Balinda Lwasa, she working under the joint-supervision 18 minute narrated film, providing a forms the backbone of programme support of the INIBAP regional coordinator for broad introduction to the importance of in what is now the largest INIBAP office West and Central Africa and the bananas in world agriculture, problems outside of Montpellier. Agriculture Plant faced by smallholder farmers and how Maria Angeli Maghuyop has been Production and INIBAP is trying to address them. technical assistant at the INIBAP office Protection The film was produced by a Canadian in Los Baños, the Philippines, since July Division (AGPC) company, called Baobab Productions, 2000. Her role involves providing support of the (FAO). which has worked with several Future in the implementation of the His chief tasks Harvest centres. Their philosophy is International Musa Testing Programme have included col- somewhat unique in that they do not (IMTP) Phase III and providing laborating with employ a large camera and production programme support in organizing meet- MUSACO mem- crew, but work as a one-man band who ings and produc- bers to gather shoots, interviews, produces and directs ing reports and baseline informa- all in one. The pressure may be intense, other materials. tion on banana production into a spe- but the budget is low and the effect on Angie is Filipina cially-developed database, and to con- those being filmed is far less intrusive. and has a degree duct a bibliographic study of periurban David Mowbray, the one-man band and in agriculture, spe- agriculture around Yaounde and Douala, president of Baobab has travelled with cializing in plant the two major cities of Cameroon. his small digital video camera throughout pathology, from Asia, Africa, Europe, Central America the University of Better knowledge and the Caribbean on an excruciating the Philippines of information timetable to interview banana farmers, Los Baños (UPLB) management tools researchers and INIBAP partners. and worked previously as a researcher at In recent years, INIBAP’s Information UPLB, the Entomology and Plant and Communication Unit has developed Pathology Division of the International new information dissemination aid tools. Rice Research Institute (IRRI-EPPD) INIBAP held a training session from 8 to and as programme assistant in the 12 October 2001 to initiate regional office Philippine Council for Agriculture, programme assistants in the use of these Forestry and Natural Resources Research tools and had the pleasure of welcoming and Development (PCARRD). as participants Versalynn Roa (Asia and Dr Robert Nkendah is a researcher the Pacific), Lisette Vega (Latin America under the Young Professionals and the Caribbean), Helen Namatovu Programme of the Food and Agriculture Byarugaba and Siifa Lwasa (eastern and Organization of the United Nations southern Africa). Marie-Madeleine (FAO), seconded for a period of Mbakop Ngamy (western and central 11 months to the INIBAP office in Douala, Africa) was unfortunately not able to Cameroon, starting in January this year. attend. Robert is a Cameroonian Agroeconomist The participants were able to explore with a doctorate in rural economy from the INIBAP Web site, the MUSADOC 2001 the University of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. CD-ROM and the “Les Bananes/Bananas” The result is a beautiful sequence of Banana and plantain were the subject of multimedia CD-ROM. They attended pre- images, with music and narration, illus- his doctoral studies, which he carried out sentations of the MGIS programme (Musa trating the diversity of people involved in while based at the Centre Ivoirien de germplasm information system) and the banana production and marketing Recherches Economiques et Sociales image database (see the article on p. 34 of around the world, from huge banana auc- (CIRES). Whilst at INIBAP, he has been this issue). Their new knowledge will make tions in India to large plantations in Cuba

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 47 and smallholdings and women’s coopera- tives in Africa. Launching the film at the Annual General Meeting of the CGIAR at the World Bank in Washington, INIBAP was able to introduce the INIBAP/PRO- MUSA support group to some of the projects and individuals they have been financing. The film is being distributed as a CD-ROM for viewing on a computer. For more information contact Charlotte Lusty or Claudine Picq at INIBAP HQ.

MGIS News Following the MGIS training course held in India, in May 2001, new sets of data have been added to the MGIS database by Dr Uma, National Research Centre on Banana (NRCB), Trichy and Dr A. Rekha, Indian Institute of Horticultural Agriculture (IIHR), Bangalore, India. This update brings the number of accessions recorded for the NRCB collection to 813, along with 290 morphotaxonomic Marcio de Miranda Dos Santos, IPGRI BOT Chair and Geoff Hawtin, IPGRI Director General, looking at descriptions, 45 photos and 54 agronomic making banana compost in Bushenyi (C. Hoogendoorn, IPGRI). evaluations. Dr Rekha has sent 26 pass- part data as a starting set. To date, 4153 accessions have been recorded in MGIS by 13 institutions, with IPGRI Board of Trustees ous banana cultivation for more than 200 information on 809 shipments of mater- visited Uganda years or more. ial, 1619 morphotaxonomic descriptions, The IPGRI Board of Trustees for 2001 The importance of bananas in this 1495 agronomic evaluations, 300 evalua- Session II, met in Nairobi, Kenya, region of Uganda became quickly appar- tions to stress and 687 photos. September 17-21, 2001. As part of their ent to the BOT as the farmers launched programme it was arranged for them to an intense programme of activities to IITA-INIBAP Joint Programme visit Uganda to meet stakeholders and show the visitors what they do with for Africa – Annual planning partners in the country and view first- bananas and what bananas do for them. meeting hand the field activities under way. The The demonstrations focused on banana On 29 September, the annual planning non-stop programme took the visitors utilization, including the cultural as well meeting between IITA and INIBAP was 400 km to the south-west of Uganda, as as the nutritional aspects and the BOT held in Kampala, Uganda. This meeting well as to research facilities in and around was treated to a break time buffet of vari- was organized in order to review progress Kampala. Members of the BOT had the ous dishes and beverages. Other demon- in the joint programme which had been opportunity to exchange ideas not only strations were focused on illustrating fac- initiated in 2000 and to identify any con- with researchers, research managers and tors affecting genetic erosion, including straints to collaboration. All participants policy makers, but also with farmers par- soil erosion, soil nutrient deficiencies, agreed that the joint programme was a ticipating in IPGRI’s research programme. pests and diseases. welcome initiative and noted that The key partner at this site is a commu- progress had been made during the last Visit to banana in situ conservation nity-based organization (CBO) called the year in achieving greater integration site in Bushenyi Association for the Advancement of between the INIBAP and IITA pro- Bushenyi is one of the five benchmark Sustainable Rural Development (ASASU- grammes in Africa. It was emphasized sites which INIBAP and partners have RUDE). Through funding from a USAID that collaborative work programmes established in Eastern Africa. It is grant ASASURUDE has been able to pro- should be discussed and developed at the located nearly 400 km to the south-west vide a cow to its members to help address annual meetings of the Steering of Kampala, in a highland agro-ecosys- the nutritional needs of the region. By Committees of the regional networks tem that is completely dominated by coincidence, baseline studies carried out (MUSACO and BARNESA). In this way, bananas grown in subsistence holdings. as part of the in situ conservation project regional research agenda can be devel- Here banana is the way of life and peo- had revealed that serious soil nutrient oped involving all players, national, ple’s lives are about bananas. People problems in banana gardens was con- regional and international. Specific areas here work in banana fields and eat tributing to cultivar loss. Arrangements of discussion included IITA’s participa- ‘matooke’ (a banana dish); cows and were made to link the two projects so that tion in the Uganda Biotechnology Project goats feed on banana leaves and pseu- project farmers received a zero-grazed being implemented by INIBAP, the com- dostems and every vehicle that drives by cow. With the support of the government plementary roles of INIBAP and IITA with is carrying bunches of bananas. Farmers extension department, project farmers regard to the conservation of germplasm who can not afford iron roofs use banana were taught how to compost manure using and the roles of IITA and INIBAP in the leaf base fibre as thatch for their houses. cow dung and urine as the base. The publication of MusAfrica. Most gardens have been under continu- manure has been applied to banana

48 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 gardens with resounding success. Farmers in impressive style demonstrated to the BOT members their skills in preparing nutrient-rich manure for their bananas. At the end of the visit, farmers treated the BOT members to a ‘matooke’ meal, during which the chair of ASASURUDE requested IPGRI to look into a number of constraints the farmers and the CBO were facing. In response, the IPGRI Director General (DG), Dr Geoffrey Hawtin, offered to provide a motorcycle to the CBO, to alleviate the transport problem. Dr Hawtin also thanked the farmers for the meal and for being effective partners in

IPGRI’s research programmes. The visit Participants of the Asia/Pacific Musa Network relaunching workshop. was crowned by the planting of banana trees by the BOT chair and the IPGRI DG. Relaunching of the network local host through the active support of for Asia and the Pacific: Dr S.S.B.D.G. Jayawardena, Director Meeting with partners BAPNET (Banana Asia-Pacific General of DOA. in and around Kampala Network) The meeting was attended by 15 repre- Back in Kampala, the BOT had discus- A planning workshop of the Asia-Pacific sentatives of 12 country and institutional sions with the Association for Regional Banana Research and members: Strengthening Agricultural Research in Development network was held on • Australia – Mr Robert Williams East and Central Africa (ASARECA) and September 11-14, 2001 in Kalutara, Sri (Programme Leader - Tropical Tree officials of the National Agricultural Lanka in place of the traditional annual Fruit, Queensland Horticulture Ins- Research Organization (NARO). The dis- Regional Advisory Committee meeting. titute, Department of Primary cussions centred on the two IPGRI- The workshop was very significant as it Industries) coordinated networks (BARNESA and aimed to relaunch a new and revitalized • Bangladesh – Dr Syed Md. Monowar EAPGREN) operating in the region and banana network that is responsive to the Hossain (Director, Horticulture how their activities could be strength- banana R&D needs in the region. While Research Centre/Bangladesh Agric- ened. In addition the party met with the ASPNET has achieved significant accom- ultural Research Institute) Uganda Minister of State for Agriculture, plishments in the region since its cre- • Cambodia – Mr Pith Khon Hel Hon. Israel Kibirige Sebunya, who later ation in 1991 as an INIBAP initiative, the (Germplasm Specialist and Plant hosted a Minister’s lunch. Prof. Joseph network members felt that there is now a Breeder, Cambodian Agricultural Mukiibi, the Director General of NARO- need to review the goals and objectives of Research and Development Institute) Uganda, also attended the meeting. Mr the network, including its modus • China – Prof. Tang Xiaolang (Vice John Wasswa Mulumba conducted the operandi, structure, role of its members Director, Guangdong Academy of BOT through Entebbe Botanical Garden as well as that of INIBAP, so that it will Agricultural Science) and provided an outline of the PGR activ- become a sustainable, relevant and truly • India – Dr R.N. Pal (Deputy Director ities of NARO. NARS-based banana network. General for Horticulture, Indian The BOT also visited NARO’s Forestry Heads of member NARS in the region Council of Agricultural Research) Research Institute (FORI) field sites at or their representatives, an APAARI (Asia • Indonesia – Dr Ahmad Dimyati Namanve and Kifu, where NARO and Pacific Association of Agricultural (Director, Central Research Institute ICRAF have collaborative projects on for- Research Institutions ) representative, for Horticulture) est conservation. The BOT visited the INIBAP staff including the Director of •Malaysia – Dr Nik Hassan Nik Masdek field station of the Eastern and Southern INIBAP participated in the planning (Senior Research Officer, Malaysian African Research Centre (ESARC) of the workshop. A professional facilitator Agricultural Research and Devel- International Institute of Tropical ensured an efficient workshop. As an out- opment Institute) Agriculture (IITA) and attended demon- put, a new constitution of the network • Philippines – Dr Patricio Faylon strations presented by a joint team of was formulated, together with the net- (Executive Director, Philippine Council NARO and IITA scientists on cassava, work logical framework. The participants for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural potatoes, yams and banana. Later the chose a new name of the network, the Resources Research and Development party visited the tissue culture facility at Banana Asia Pacific Network (BAPNET). Institute and also representing Namulonge Agricultural and Animal The full relaunching and operationaliza- APAARI) and Nicomedes Eleazar Research Institute (NAARI) and at tion of the network is expected in 2002 as (Assistant Director, Bureau of Makerere University Agricultural the BAPNET constitution will be fully Agricultural Research) Research Institute, Kabanyolo, where the officially approved by all heads of NARS • Sri Lanka – Dr S.S.B.D.G. Jayawardena problems of genebank operations in as well as the complete Steering (Director General, Dept. of Agriculture), Uganda were discussed. The four-day visit Committee members shall be finalized Dr C. Kudagamage (Director, Horti- was concluded with a trip to Makerere and strategic planning completed. culture Research and Development University and a meeting with the Dean The workshop was organized by the Institute, DA), Dr Sujatha Weerasinghe of the Faculty of Agriculture, who hailed Asia Pacific Office of INIBAP in collabo- (Banana Coordinator, HORDI, DA) the institutional linkages between ration with the Department of • Thailand – Dr Wasan Pongsomboon Makerere University and IPGRI. Agriculture (DOA) of Sri Lanka as the (Agricultural Scientist, Horticulture

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 49 Research Institute/Dept. of Agric- ulture) •Taiwan Banana Research Institute – Dr S.C. Hwang (Director, TBRI) • Secretariat of the Pacific Community – represented by Mrs Valérie Kagy- Cargnelli (Plant Pathology and Postharvest Scientist, IAC/CIRAD) Dr Emile Frison (Director, INIBAP) and Ms Suzanne Sharrock (Germplasm Conservation Scientist) of INIBAP HQ provided guidance while Dr Agustin Molina (Regional Coordinator) and Versalynn Roa (Technical/Administrative Assistant) of INIBAP for Asia/Pacific served as secretariat. A facilitator, Mr Michael Carter of the University of Wolverhampton (UK) was present to guide the participants on the use of logi- Dr Jean Carlier from CIRAD shows how to recognize Mycosphaerella spp. to the participants cal frameworks in the organization and of the IMTP III training course (A. Molina, INIBAP). programme planning of BAPNET. The representatives of Vietnam and Pakistan were not able to attend but still remain Zapater from CIRAD and Jean-Vincent The Philippine Coconut Authority as members of the network. Escalant from INIBAP, France. Dr Siti (PCA) is responsible for implementing Hawa Jamaluddin of MARDI and former the work and INIBAP will provide assis- IMTP III training conducted representative of Malaysia to the tance through the provision of disease- in Malaysia Regional Advisory Committee, served as free tissue-cultured planting materials A training session, jointly organized by the local organizer. and training of farmer-cooperators in INIBAP Headquarters and BAPNET (for- establishing nurseries, planting, inte- merly INIBAP-ASPNET), in collaboration COGENT-INIBAP collaboration: grated pest management and other cul- with the Malaysian Agricultural Research Intercropping banana tural practices concerning banana. At and Development Institute (MARDI), under coconut-based present, tissue-cultured banana International Plant Genetic Resources farming systems seedlings are growing in the project site Institute – Asia, Pacific and Oceania Banana has been chosen as an intercrop of Dolores, Quezon; Sto Niño, Cagayan; (IPGRI-APO) office at Serdang, Malaysia, to increase the income and food supply of San Jose, Nueva Ecija; and Ligao, Albay. and the Centre de coopération interna- resource-poor coconut growers. INIBAP- tionale en recherche agronomique pour Asia/Pacific and the International Visiting scientist on le développement (CIRAD) was con- Coconut Genetic Resources Network molecular characterization ducted on June 18-22, 2001 at the (COGENT) launched a collaborative pro- in Guadeloupe Renaissance Palm Garden Hotel in ject in the Philippines aiming to INIBAP sponsored the visit of Dr Rachel Putrajaya and at MARDI Headquarters in enhance the livelihood of farmers whose Sotto, a Filipino scientist working on Serdang, Malaysia. A total of 28 partici- major income is from producing coconut. Musa balbisiana in the University of the pants from 15 countries attended the Banana is a high value year-round crop, Philippines, to Guadeloupe for a training course: seven came from Latin America which may be viably grown inside the on molecular characterization using and the Caribbean, two from West and coconut groves. COGENT’s belief is that microsatellites for Musa with emphasis Central Africa and 19 from Asia. through increasing the income of on Musa balbisiana, on August 7-25, 2001 The training focused on the evaluation coconut farmers they will effectively pro- under the supervision of Dr Françoise of banana leaf spot diseases and methods mote the conservation of coconut Carreel of CIRAD. The training focused of collecting data. It was conducted prior germplasm. mainly on DNA extraction. Other activi- to the launch of Phase III of the The project is largely funded by an ties included DNA quantification, prepa- International Musa Testing Programme Asian Development Bank (ADB) grant to ration of agarose gel, PCR, electrophore- (IMTP) so as to allow the standardization COGENT. Together with INIBAP- sis and visualization of bands. The of methods of collecting data on agron- Asia/Pacific, COGENT will study the molecular technique taught was on omy, pathology and other areas. It also technical feasibility and socioeconomic Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic aimed to train research personnel in leaf viability of intercropping banana in new Sequence (CAPS) using chloroplast DNA. spot disease evaluation, including the and existing coconut plantations in The knowledge and skills acquired during recognition of different fungus species. 14 project sites in the Philippines. Three the training would later be used to fur- As part of the course there were lec- sites involve establishing new coconut ther characterize the variation observed tures, practical laboratory work, visits to plantings, while 11 sites are located in in the Philippine Musa balbisiana banana plantations of various capacities existing coconut plantations. The germplasm collection. and to the MARDI banana germplasm col- banana crop will generate income in the lection, where some of the training in former sites whilst the coconut grow into Training activities in Latin data and sample collection and symptom fruit-bearing trees, but immediately aug- America and the Caribbean recognition took place. The trainers were ment the incomes of coconut farmers in In the framework of the project “Training Drs Jean Carlier and Marie-Françoise the latter sites. and research for integrated management

50 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 of black Sigatoka on plantain in Latin America and the Caribbean”, funded by the Fondo Regional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (FONTAGRO), two training courses took place: From 17 to 25 July 2001. “Workshop on training and research for integrated management of black Sigatoka on plantain in Latin America and the Caribbean, to which participated 25 people from 10 countries: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela. From 3 to 7 September 2001. “International course on methods for the analysis of the sensibility of M. fijiensis to fungicides and the establishment of monitoring methods”. Fifteen participants came from nine countries of the region: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Participants of the training workshop on integrated management of black Sigatoka (CATIE, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, 17-25 July 2001) Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela. From 29 October to 3 November, INIBAP coorganized with the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture a training course on Plantain production.

MUSALAC meeting in Honduras The 2nd Meeting of the Plantain and Banana Research and Development Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (MUSALAC) was held from August 6 to 10, 2001 at the Fundación Hondureña de Investigación Agrícola (FHIA) in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Thirty-five scientists from 13 countries of the region participated in this meeting, representing Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico and Venezuela and Participants to the 2nd MUSALAC meeting (F. Rosales, INIBAP). three international and regional institutions (CATIE, IICA and INIBAP). Drs Altagracia Rivera de Castillo Books etc. (President of MUSALAC), Miguel Angel Bonilla (Vice Minister of Agriculture, Honduras), Adolfo Martínez (Director MusaDoc CD-Rom General of FHIA, Honduras) and Franklin The third edition of the MusaDoc CD- from the Asia and Pacific region on Rosales (INIBAP-LAC’s Regional Rom, MusaDoc 2001 is now available. “Advancing banana and plantain R & D Coordinator and MUSALAC’s executive Updated versions of the INI- in Asia and the Pacific” and secretariat) opened the meeting. The BAP databases, MUSALIT, “Managing banana and main topic of the meeting was the tech- containing over 6000 bib- citrus diseases”, new nological offer and all the country and liographic records and technical guidelines on institutional representatives had the abstracts on Musa, “Cryoconservation of opportunity to present technologies, ser- and BRIS, the data- Musa germplasm”, vices or products available through their base on banana and the second edi- institutions. Special guests made presen- researchers, are both tion of Musalogue tations on topics of general interest such searchable on the CD- entitled “Diversity of as nematodes, socioeconomics, organic Rom. All recent publi- the genus Musa”. The banana production. The Network’s cations are also CD-Rom also provides an Steering Committee also had its annual included in MusaDoc updated summary of INI- meeting and Dominican Republic was 2001 - new factsheets on BAP’s activities. designated as the venue for the 2002 pests and diseases, INIBAP The CD-Rom is available from MUSALAC meeting. annual report 2000, two new publications INIBAP Headquarters.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 51 Advancing banana and For the second time, the proceedings of weevil Odoiporus longicollis” and plantain R & D in Asia the 10th INIBAP-ASPNET Regional was prepared by B. Padmanaban and and the Pacific, Vol. 10 Advisory Committee meeting are pub- S. Sathiamoorthy. It describes Odoiporus Proceedings of the 10th INIBAP- lished in a 162-page-book. This publica- longicollis Oliver (Coleoptera: Cur- ASPNET Regional Advisory tion provides most up-to-date informa- culionidae) and provides information on Committee meeting held in tion on Musa research, including three Bangkok, Thailand, 10-11 technical presentations on breeding, November 2000 nematodes and integrated pest control. It also includes an update on current research and perspectives in several countries of the region, among which Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Pacific Islands, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Taiwan, and a report on the ASPNET network’s activities since its last meeting. Copies are available from the INIBAP Regional Office in the Philippines.

Factsheets on Musa diseases and pests As announced in the last issue of INFOMUSA, factsheets on Musa dis- its biology, distribution and biological eases No. 9 and 10, on “False Panama cycle, the damages caused by the weevil disorder on banana” and “Wilt-like dis- and the control methods (cultural, Edited by A.B. Molina, V.N. Roa order of bananas in Uganda” are now chemical and biological). and M.A. Maghuyop available. The fifth factsheet on Musa Copies of all factsheets are available pests is dedicated to “The banana stem from INIBAP Headquarters.

Announcements

XVth meeting of ACORBAT 2002 st (1 announcement) 27 October-2 November 2002, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

The Colombian Association of Banana hosted many international meetings. The Growers, AUGURA, and the Association city boasts scenery of great natural for the Cooperation on Banana Research beauty, as well as a very special history in the Caribbean and Tropical America, and charm, offering museums, colonial ACORBAT international, are pleased to streets and historic buildings, all with a announce the preparation of the XVth distinctive Caribbean flavour. Full secu- ACORBAT World meeting to be held in rity measures are ensured. Visit the Web Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, from site at: 27 October to 2 November 2002, accord- http://www.cartagenadeindias.com/. ing to the commitment made during the The XVth meeting of ACORBAT is fore- XIVth Association meeting in Puerto Rico seen as one of the most important events in 2000. for the banana and plantain sector in ACORBAT 2002 will focus on the sus- 2002 and an exceptional platform for tainability of the banana and plantain interaction for all stakeholders from the sector and will discuss the following sub- banana and plantain production sector jects: Agronomy; Plant protection; Plant throughout the world.

HAPPY NEW genetics, improvement and biotechnol- For more information, visit AUGURA’s Web site ogy; Physiology; Postharvest manage- at: www.augura.com.co ment; Agroindustry; Economics and mar- Contact: Sabina Alvarez E. YEAR E-mail: [email protected] keting; Environmental impact; Regional Phone: (574) 321 13 33 – Fax: (574) 321 41 90 analysis and Soil biochemistry. from all INIBAP The fascinating city of Cartagena de Other important meetings staff Indias, founded in 1533, was declared a are also announced on p. 12 “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO and has of the PROMUSA section.

52 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 th variation, mutagenesis and in vitro VI International selection; Decontamination and diagno- sis of pathogenic microorganisms; symposium on plant Microbial contamination in in vitro tissue cultures; Production of secondary biotechnology metabolites; Information, marketing and intellectual property in the area of plant (2nd announcement) biotechnology.

17-21 June 2002, Santa Clara, Cuba Registration fees Delegates: 150 US$ Students: 75US$ Accompanying person: 50US$ The Instituto de Biotecnología de las PROMUSA. The events will take place at For more information, contact: Plantas (IBP) is organizing the VIth the hotel “Villa La Granjita”, 3 km from Lic. Orlando Gregorio Chaviano Secretariado ejecutivo IPB International symposium on plant Santa Clara. Carretera a Camajuani Km 5 biotechnology, to be held from 17 to 21 Major themes include: Genetic trans- Santa Clara CP 54 830 Villa Clara, Cuba June 2002. The programme includes con- formation and molecular biology; Cell Tel.: 53 42 281257 ferences, round tables, workshops and and tissue culture; Somatic embryogene- Fax: 53 42 281329 Email: [email protected] posters sessions, as well as commercial sis and artificial seeds; Mass propaga- [email protected] exhibits and an important meeting of tion; Plant breeding based on somaclonal http://www.cuba.cu/ciencia/ibp/home.htm

Breakthroughs in phytopathology; INISAV training activities Phytosanitary surveillance; Management of resistance to fungicides: impact on the in 2002 reduction of fungicides application on economically important crops; Biological control of crops diseases; International course on plant sanitary status and tax- The Instituto de Investigaciones de time will be dedicated to hands-on train- onomy of microorganisms potentially use- Sanidad Vegetal (INISAV), the major ing so as to allow each participant to ful in biological control. Cuban research centre in the area of plant receive a practical training. At the end of protection, offers in 2002 a cycle of train- the cycle, participants will receive a cer- For more information, contact: ing activities that are specifically targeted tificate from INISAV, which is accredited Dr Emilio Fernández Gonzálvez at researchers, teachers and all those by the Ministry of Higher Studies. Subdirector División de Microbiología Calle 110 No 514, e/ 5ta B y 5ta F. interested in the phytosanitary aspects in International courses (40-hour each) Miramar, Playa, Ciudad de La Habana tropical agriculture. This cycle includes include the following themes: Advanced Fax: (537)240535, 229366 Tel.: (537)294753 conferences, workshops, discussions and technologies for the control of horticul- Email : [email protected] scientific and cultural trips. Part of the tural crops: impact and perspectives; http://www.ceniai.inf.cu/ciencia/inisav

All you want to know about Limited edition. BANANAS Buy it now hot from the on a multimedia press ! CD-ROM Rates : Price for one copy 25 US $ This multimedia CD-ROM on bananas 5 copies or more 15 US $ per copy has been produced as a joint effort of • The world’s largest herb the International Network for the • The much-travelled Improvement of Bananas and Plantain banana (INIBAP) and the Centre de coopération • Banana – a basic food internationale en recherche agronomique • The industrial chain of Please return your order pour le développement (CIRAD). dessert banana and payment to: •Watch that plant grow! Organized in seven chapters, this very attractive •Protecting the banana INIBAP CD-ROM presents information on all the aspects of the crop and its future Parc Scientifique Agropolis II, lavishly illustrated with films, photographs, maps, comics, etc. • Banana as veg or 34 397 Montpellier Cedex 5, as dessert? France Demonstrated during the EXPO 2000 in Hanover, Germany (August 2000) Tel.: 33 - (0)4 67 61 13 02 and during the Banana and Pineapple professional meeting organized Fax: 33 - (0)4 67 61 03 34 by CIRAD-FLHOR in Montpellier, France (September 2000). Email: [email protected]

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 53 INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE Postdoctoral Fellows for work on Musa

The International Institute of Tropical breeding techniques. Banana and plan- carry out independent research to sup- Agriculture (IITA) invites applications tain improvement is a relatively under- port the overall cultivar development for two Postdoctoral Fellows for work researched area that involves interspe- goals with increased emphasis on dis- on Musa. (1) a Molecular Geneticist cific hybridization, genome and ploidy ease and pest resistance breeding. to be based at its Headquarters manipulation. The ideal candidate for the position in Ibadan, Nigeria and (2) a of Banana Breeder/Plant Pathologist Breeder/Pathologist to be based at (1) Molecular Geneticist will have the following: a recent PhD IITA’s Eastern and Southern Africa The emphasis of the position will be on degree (obtained within the last two Regional Center, in Kampala, Uganda. identifying molecular markers in years) in plant breeding with a minor banana and plantains for important in plant pathology (or vice versa), with IITA is one of the 16 international agronomic traits including partheno- some knowledge in cytology and new agricultural research institutes of the carpy, apical dominance, and resis- tools of molecular breeding; an ability Consultative Group on International tance to black Sigatoka and nema- to work as a member of a multi-disci- Agricultural Research (CGIAR), todes. The individual will also be plinary team; the ability to work well which is co-sponsored by the World responsible for genome analysis, in a cross-cultural setting. Fluency in Bank, the Food and Agriculture germplasm characterization, finger- English is required while a working Organization of the United Nations, printing and detection of somatic knowledge of French, would be a dis- the United Nations Development instability of hybrids. tinct advantage. Field experience in Programme and the International The ideal candidate for the position the humid tropics, particularly in Fund for Agricultural Development. of Musa Molecular Geneticist will have Africa would be highly desirable. The Institute has programmes in the following: a recent PhD degree Salary and benefits are internation- many countries of sub-Saharan Africa. (obtained within the last two years) in ally competitive and include housing, IITA scientists from over 30 countries molecular genetics including demon- personal car allowance, education work in partnership with national strated skills in DNA markers (RAPD, allowance for up to two children, agricultural agencies and farmers to AFLP, SSRs among others), a good annual home leave travel, and health increase agricultural production in understanding of polyploid genetics; services. Initial appointment will be for tropical Africa, and ultimately to raise an ability to work as a member of a two years, extendable to three years. the productivity and income of small- multi-disciplinary team; and the ability Applicants for this position are scale farmers in an ecologically sus- to work well in a cross-cultural setting. invited to send their curriculum vitae, tainable way. For more information on Fluency in English is required, while a date of availability, and names and IITA, visit our Web site at: working knowledge of French, would addresses of three professional refer- http://www.iita.org be a distinct advantage. ees by email to Frances McDonald, Banana and plantain constitute Manager of Human Resources at major food sources in Africa, grown (2) Breeder/Pathologist [email protected] or by fax to mainly by small-scale farmers within The individual appointed to this posi- F. McDonald at 234-2-241-2221. Hard complex cropping systems. Major con- tion will assist and provide support to a copies may also be sent to her atten- straints to production include suscep- senior breeder in the development of tion through IITA’s international mail- tibility of most traditional cultivars to new improved banana cultivars and ing address – Lambourn (UK) Ltd., black Sigatoka disease, Fusarium wilt, germplasm with primary emphasis on Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, various nematode species, and viruses. high yield potentials, improved disease Croydon CR9 3EE, UK. Applications IITA has developed a strong breeding and pest resistance and adaptation to will be received until 28 February 2002. programme to produce resistant culti- biotic and abiotic stresses. In addition IITA is an equal opportunity employer vars using a combination of conven- to assisting with on-going banana and would particularly welcome appli- tional cross-breeding and molecular breeding activities, the individual will cations from women candidates.

54 INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 INIBAP addresses

• Headquarters C/o CATIE Associate Scientist, Technology transfer Parc Scientifique Agropolis II Apdo 60-7170 Turrialba, COSTA RICA Guy BLOMME 34397 Montpellier Cedex 5 – FRANCE Tel/Fax: (506) 556 2431 PO Box 24384 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Kampala http://www.inibap.org UGANDA Director • Regional Office for Asia and the Fax: (256-41) 28 69 49 Dr Emile FRISON Pacific e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Regional Coordinator Plant Genetic Resources Scientist Dr Agustín MOLINA • INIBAP Transit Center Dr Jean-Vincent ESCALANT C/o IRRI Collaborators Center (ITC) e-mail: [email protected] 3rd Floor, Los Baños, Officer in charge Germplasm Conservation Scientist Laguna 4031 Ms Ines VAN DEN HOUWE Ms Suzanne SHARROCK PHILIPPINES Katholieke Universiteit Leuven e-mail: [email protected] Fax: (63-49) 536 05 32 Laboratory of Tropical Crop Head Information/Communications e-mail: [email protected] Improvement Ms Claudine PICQ Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, e-mail: [email protected] • Regional Office for West and B-3001 Leuven Officer in charge MGIS Central Africa BELGIUM Ms Elizabeth ARNAUD Regional Coordinator Fax: (32-16) 32 19 93 e-mail: [email protected] Dr Ekow AKYEAMPONG e-mail: Financial Manager Associate Scientist, Technology transfer [email protected] Mr Thomas THORNTON Kim JACOBSEN e-mail: [email protected] C/o CRBP – BP 12438 • Associate Expert, Nematology Douala, CAMEROON Mr Thomas MOENS • Regional Office for Latin America Fax: (237) 342 91 56 C/o CORBANA and the Caribbean e-mail: [email protected] La Rita Research Station Regional Coordinator Apdo 390-7210 Dr Franklin E. ROSALES • Regional Office for Eastern and Guápiles, Associate Scientist, Southern Africa COSTA RICA Musa technology transfer Regional Coordinator Fax: (506) 763 30 55 Luis POCASANGRE Dr Eldad KARAMURA e-mail: [email protected]

Instructions to authors

Typescripts should be prepared in text, followed by the acronym in ber in the text. Each table should English, French or Spanish and submit- parenthesis. include a title. ted in duplicate to the Managing Editor. • References: All literature references Illustrations: These should be numbered They should be double-spaced through- made in the text should be referred to consecutively and referred to by these out. All pages (including tables figures, by author(s) and year of publication numbers in the text. Each illustration legends and references) should be num- (e.g.: Sarah et al. 1992, Rowe 1995). A should include a clear and simple caption. bered consecutively. Include the full list of references, in alphabetical Graphs: provide the corresponding raw name of all the authors of the paper, order, should be provided at the end of data with the graphs. together with the addresses of the the text. Drawings: provide originals if this is authors at the time of the work reported Please follow the style shown below: possible. in the paper. Indicate also the author Periodicals: Sarah J.L., C. Blavignac & Black and white photographs: provide nominated to receive correspondence M. Boisseau. 1992. Une méthode de them on bright paper and with good con- regarding the paper. laboratoire pour le criblage variétal trast. If the typescript was prepared on a des bananiers vis-à-vis de la résistance Colour photographs: provide good qual- computer, please send a copy on diskette aux nématodes. Fruits 47(5): 559-564. ity proofs and films or original slides. (or by e-mail) along with the printed Books: Stover R.H. & N.W. Simmonds. Note: When plant material used for the ones, indicating the name and version of 1987. Bananas (3rd edition). Longman, experiments reported originates or is reg- the wordprocessor used. London, United Kingdom. istered in the INIBAP genebank, its acces- • Abstracts: An abstract not exceeding Articles (or chapters) in books: Bakry F. sion number (ITC code) should be indi- 200-250 words should be sent in the & J.P. Horry. 1994. Musa breeding at cated within the text or in a tabular form. same language as the typescript, as CIRAD-FLHOR. Pp. 169-175 in The well as translations (including the Improvement and Testing of Musa: a title) into the two other languages, if Global Partnership (D.R. Jones, ed.). Thank you in advance for following this is possible. INIBAP, Montpellier, France. these instructions • Acronyms: These should be written in Tables: These should be numbered con- This will facilitate and accelerate full the first time they appear in the secutively and referred to by these num- the editing work.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 55 Publications from INIBAP

www.inibap.org

The following publications are available from INIBAP/ACIAR 1997. E. Arnaud & J.P. Horry (eds). Musalogue, a catalogue of Musa headquarters: germplasm: Papua New Guinea collecting missions 1988-1989. INIBAP/CTA/FHIA/NRI/ODA 1997. B.K. Dadzie & J.E. Orchard. Post-harvest Routine INIBAP/CTA/CIRAD 2001. J. Daniells, C. Jenny, D. Karamura & K. Tomekpe. Musalogue: a Screening of Banana and Plantain Hybrids: Criteria and Methods. INIBAP Technical catalogue of Musa germplasm. Diversity in the genus Musa (E. Arnaud & S. Sharrock, Guidelines 2. compil.). INIBAP/CTA 1997. P.R. Speijer & D. De Waele. Screening of Musa Germplasm for INIBAP/CTA 2001. B. Panis & N.T. Thinh. Cryopreservation of Musa germplasm Resistance and Tolerance to Nematodes. INIBAP Technical Guidelines 1. (J.V. Escalant et S. Sharrock, eds). INIBAP Technical Guidelines 5. INIBAP/The World Bank 1997. E.A. Frison, G. Orjeda & S. Sharrock (eds). PROMUSA: A INIBAP 2001. Networking bananas and plantains: Annual Report 2000. Global Programme for Musa Improvement. Proceedings of a meeting held in Gosier, CIRAD/INIBAP 2000. Bananas. Guadeloupe, March 5 and 9, 1997. INIBAP 2000. M. Holderness, S. Sharrock, E. Frison & M. Kairo (eds). Organic banana INIBAP-IPGRI/CIRAD. 1996. Descriptors for Banana (Musa spp.). 2000: Towards an organic banana initiative in the Caribbean. Report of the international workshop on the production and marketing of organic bananas by smallholder The following publications are available from Asia farmers. 31 October-4 November 1999, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. and the Pacific office: INIBAP 2000. G. Orjeda (compil.). Evaluating bananas: a global partnership. Results of INIBAP-ASPNET 2001. A.B. Molina, V.N. Roa & M.A.G. Maghuyop (eds). Advancing banana IMTP Phase II. and plantain R & D in Asia and the Pacific Vol. 10. Proceeding of the 10th INIBAP-ASP- INIBAP/EARTH/IDRC 1999. F.E. Rosales, S.C. Tripon & J. Cerna (eds). Organic/environ- NET Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) meeting held at Bangkok, Thailand, 10-11 mentally friendly banana production. Proceedings of a workshop held at EARTH, Guácimo, Costa Rica, 27-29 July 1998. November 2000. INIBAP/CRBP/CTA/CF 1999. C. Picq, E. Fouré & E.A. Frison (eds). Bananas and food INIBAP-ASPNET/MARDI 2001. A.B. Molina, N.H. Nik Masdek & K.W. Liew (eds). Banana security/Les productions bananières: un enjeu économique majeur pour la sécurité ali- Fusarium wilt management: towards sustainable cultivation. Proceedings of the inter- mentaire. Proceedings of an International Symposium held in Douala, Cameroon, 10- national workshop on the management of Fusarium wilt disease held in Genting, 14 November 1998. Malaysia, 18-20 October 1999. INIBAP/FHIA 1999. F.E. Rosales, E. Arnaud & J. Coto (eds). A tribute to the work of Paul INIBAP-ASPNET 2000. A.B. Molina & V.N. Roa (eds). Advancing banana and plantain H. Allen: a catalogue of wild and cultivated bananas. R & D in Asia and the Pacific. Proceedings of the 9th INIBAP-ASPNET Regional INIBAP/RF/SDC 1999. E.A. Frison, C.S. Gold, E.B. Karamura & R.A. Sikora (eds). Mobilizing Advisory Committee meeting held at South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, IPM for sustainable banana production in Africa. Proceedings of a workshop on banana China, 2-5 November 1999. IPM held in Nelspruit, South Africa, 23-28 November 1998. INIBAP-ASPNET/FFTC 2000. A.B. Molina, V.N. Roa, J. Bay-Petersen, A.T. Carpio & J.E.A. INIBAP 1999. E. Akyeampong (ed.). Musa Network for West and Central Africa. Report of Joven (eds). Managing banana and citrus diseases. Proceedings of a regional workshop the second Steering Committee meeting held at Douala, Cameroon, 15-16 November on disease management of banana and citrus through the use of disease-free planting 1998. materials held in Davao City, Philippines, 14-16 October 1998. INIBAP 1999. K. Shepherd. Cytogenetics of the genus Musa. INIBAP-ASPNET 2000. R.V. Valmayor, S.H. Jamaluddin, B. Silayoi, S. Kusumo, L.D. Danh, INIBAP 1998. E. Akyeampong (ed.). Musa Network for West and Central Africa. Report of O.C. Pascua & R.R.C. Espino. Banana cultivar names and synonyms in Southeast Asia. the first Steering Committee meeting held at Douala, Cameroon, 8-10 December 1997. INIBAP-ASPNET 1999. V.N. Roa & A.B. Molina (eds). Minutes: Eighth meeting of INIBAP- INIBAP 1998. E.A. Frison & S.L. Sharrock (eds). Banana streak virus: a unique virus-Musa ASPNET Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) hosted by the Queensland Horticulture interaction? Proceedings of a workshop of the PROMUSAvirology working group held Institute (DPI) in Brisbane, Australia, 21-23 October 1998. in Montpellier, France, 19-21 January 1998. INIBAP-ASPNET 1998. Minutes: Seventh meeting of INIBAP/ASPNET Regional Advisory INIBAP 1998. C. Picq (ed.). Segundo seminario/taller de la Red regional de información Committee (RAC) hosted by the Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute (VASI) in sobre banano y plátano de America Latina y el Caribe. San José, Costa Rica, 10-11 July Hanoi, Vietnam, 21-23 October 1997. 1997. INIBAP-ASPNET 1997. V. N. Roa & R. V. Valmayor (eds). Minutes: Sixth meeting of INI- INIBAP 1998. B.K. Dadzie. Post-harvest characteristics of black Sigatoka resistant BAP-ASPNET Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) hosted by National Research banana, cooking banana and plants hybrids. INIBAP Technical Guidelines 4. Center on Banana (ICAR) in Tiruchirapalli, India, 26-28 September 1996. INIBAP 1998. G. Orjeda in collaboration with the PROMUSA working groups on Sigatoka INIBAP-ASPNET 1996. R. V. Valmayor, V. N. Roa & V. F. Cabangbang (eds). Regional and Fusarium. Evaluation of Musa germplasm for resistance to Sigatoka diseases and Information System for Banana and Plantain - Asia and the Pacific (RISBAP): Fusarium wilt. INIBAP Technical Guidelines 3. Proceedings of a consultation/workshop held at Los Baños, Philippines, 1-3 April 1996. CIRAD/INIBAP 1998. Les bananes. (ASPNET Book Series No. 6). PROMUSA N° 8 Contents Genome busting - Launching the Global Musa Genomics Consortium ...... p. I Uganda Biotechnology project – 2nd annual planning meeting ...... p. II PROMUSA Nematology working group meeting ...... p. II • Abstracts of papers and posters ...... p. VI nd PROMUSA Since the 2 PROMUSA global meeting in 1998 ...... p. IX Meeting announcements ...... p. XII A global Programme for Musa Improvment •2nd International workshop on Sigatoka leaf spot diseases of bananas ...... p. XII • Meeting of the PROMUSA Sigatoka working group ...... p. XII • Meeting of the PROMUSA Nematology Genome busting - Launching the Global Musa working group ...... p. XII Genomics Consortium •3rd International symposium on the Molecular and cellular biology Arlington, USA, 17-20 July 2001 of bananas ...... p. XII • Meeting of the PROMUSA Genetic improvement and Virology working The scientists taking part in the collabora- During their discussions, they were able to groups ...... p. XII tion to advance Musa genome studies met consolidate the main research areas, at the National Science Foundation (NSF) where they will contribute to the Global What is PROMUSA ? in Arlington, USA, last July to launch the Musa Genomics Consortium, to identify formally-named Global Musa Genomics sources of funding and develop proposals. The Global Programme for Musa Improvement (PROMUSA) is a broad-based Consortium. This follows a series of plan- European partners have also developed a programme which aims at involving all the ning meetings and responds to the recom- proposal for funding by the European major players in Musa improvement. It was mendations arising out of the PROMUSA Commission to support their research and developed as a means to link the work carried meeting, which took place in Thailand in the setting up of an information portal out towards addressing the problems November 2000. The Consortium is made which will provide access to up-to-date of export banana producers, with those up of 26 public-funded institutes from information and results on the Web. initiatives directed towards improving banana and plantain production at the subsistence 13 countries, including developed and less The press response to the launching of and smallholder level. The global programme developed nations. NSF provided the fun- the initiative has been exceptional. builds upon existing achievements and is ding for scientists from developing coun- Through Future Harvest, tens of journalists based upon ongoing research initiatives. tries to attend the meeting. were able to interview members of the PROMUSA is therefore a mechanism to The purpose of the 3.5-day gathering consortium, resulting in well over 100 further maximize the outputs and accelerate was to discuss the strategy, functioning, articles and broadcasts being made in at the impact of the overall Musa improvement effort. The programme is an innovative rules and division of tasks of the group. least nine languages in newspapers, on mechanism to bring together research carried Agreement was made in the setting up of a the Web, television and radio throughout out both within and outside the CGIAR, management committee and a secretariat, the world. Their interest concentrated on creating new partnerships between National which will be performed by INIBAP. It is the importance of banana in world food Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and also planned that an external advisory security and the fact that the Consortium research institutes in both developing and committee will be established. The focus intends to ensure all results and products, developed countries. The formation of such partnerships will also contribute to of discussions on research centred on pro- no matter their commercial value, will be strengthening the capacity of NARS to moting and advancing the work on map- made freely available for the use of the conduct Musa-related research. ping, cDNA and BAC libraries, genome smallholder farmer. The major thrust of PROMUSA is to develop sequencing, use of mutants and bioinfor- a wide range of improved banana varieties matics. Funding sources were discussed from which growers worldwide can select and a number of research proposals are those most suited to their needs. The under development. programme brings together conventional breeding based on hybridization techniques Since the meeting took place many part- with genetic engineering and ners have been highly active. In particular, biotechnological breeding approaches. This institutes in Brazil have met and formed broad-based genetic improvement effort is Musagene-BR, a national network for supported by research being carried out on Musa genomics, under the leadership specific pests and diseases within the of Empresa Brasiliera de Pesquisa various PROMUSA working groups. An efficient mechanism for evaluating new Agropecuaria (EMBRAPA) and the varieties produced within the framework of Universidade Católica de Brasilia (UCB). PROMUSA is also an essential component of the programme.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 PROMUSA I Uganda Biotechnology project – 2nd annual planning meeting 26-28 September 2001, Kampala

The second planning meeting of the Uganda Biotechnology project was held in Kampala from 26-28 September 2001. This meeting brought together representatives of the various project partners, including NARO, IITA, INIBAP, KUL and the University of Makerere. The meeting focused on reviewing the progress made in the first year of the project and discussing work plans for the second year. It was generally agreed that the project is making good progress technically, with activities related to both the production of cell suspension and genetic transformation moving forward rapidly. A range of eight different varieties on East African Highland Bananas (EAHB) of local importance have Participants to the 2nd planning meeting of the Ugandan Biotechnology project. been selected and established in the field in Uganda. These varieties are used to provide taken into account in the development of on the identification of sources of weevil male flowers as starting material for cell sus- Year 2 work-plans. The need to initiate the resistance. Once this research commences, pension cultures that are the starting point application for the introduction of genetically the University of Pretoria will automatically for genetic transformation work. Proliferating transformed plants was considered urgent. become a new project partner. cultures, scalps and male flowers are being In this respect, a containment facility will be With regard to the technical work for inoculated in tissue culture routinely. required as a priority. Considering the level Year 2, it was agreed that the cell suspen- Capacity for the establishment and mainte- of funds presently available for Year 2 of the sion work and genetic transformation for nance of cell suspensions has been reinfor- project, it was agreed that the equipping of black Sigatoka resistance should continue as ced at the NARO research station in the molecular biology laboratory would be planned. In addition, the work on the poten- Kawanda, where the existing facilities have delayed until Year 3. However, the renova- tial of lectins in respect to nematode resis- been upgraded and the necessary chemi- tion of the building that will be used for tance at KULeuven will continue, but if positi- cals and equipment purchased and installed. molecular biology research will continue as ve results are obtained by the University of Development of a genetic transformation planned. Leeds on proteinase inhibitors, efforts will be system on EAHB started in January 2001 at Regarding the characterization of resis- made to incorporate this approach into the KULeuven in Belgium, where an Ugandan tance to weevils, a PhD student has recently project. The potential of these and other PhD student is carrying out the work using been recruited and this work will be carried approaches to nematode resistance, inclu- the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation out at Makerere University, in collaboration ding the use of secondary metabolites being (A-MT) system. Transformation experiments with IITA. Also in the framework of the pro- studied at KUL, will be assessed at the end have been carried out using four different ject, a PhD student is due to start research of the second year and a strategy for this cultivars, and transient and stable expres- shortly at the University of Pretoria, working part of the project developed at this time. sion of gfp and gusA reporter genes has been achieved. On the administrative side, as well as the project personnel that have been appointed PROMUSA Nematology working group (See INFOMUSA 10(1):45), a Technical Coordinating Committee has been set up at meeting 24–25 May 2001, South Africa the national level in Uganda. This committee, which aims to provide guidance to the The third meeting of the Nematology wor- Anne-Marie Auwerkerken (IITA, Nigeria), project, includes representatives of the king group (NWG) was held on 24-25 May, Danny Coyne (IITA, Nigeria), Uganda Consumer Protection Association, 2001 in Hulala Lakeside Lodge, Hazyview, Jose Sancho Cumbi (INIA, Mozambique), the Uganda National Council for Science & South Africa, on the occasion of the 15th Mieke Daneel (ARC-ITSC, South Africa), Technology and the National Environmental Symposium of the Nematological Society of Karen de Jager (ARC-ITSC, South Africa), Management Agency. In addition, private Southern Africa (NSSA). Carine Dochez (IITA, Uganda), sector research and the different project Emilio Fernandez (INISAV, Cuba), partners are also represented on the com- Svetlana Gaidashova (ISAR, Rwanda), mittee. Participants Philippe Gnonhouri (CNRA, Côte d’Ivoire), During the planning meeting, biosafety Dirk De Waele (KU Leuven, Belgium, NWG Liao Jinling (SCAU, China), issues were discussed at length and the convenor) and Jean-Vincent Escalant Eldad Karamura (INIBAP/BARNESA, needs of the project in this respect were (INIBAP/PROMUSA), chairmen. Uganda),

II PROMUSA INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 Nematode communities and biodiversity Country/Region Emilio Fernandez • Main nematode species identified were Radopholus similis, Meloidogyne incognita and Pratylenchus coffeae. Present only in some areas were (Cuba) Helicotylenchus multicinctus and Rotylenchulus reniformis. Thomas Moens • Variation observed in the reproductive fitness of R. similis populations from different production areas in Costa Rica. Population dynamics of (Costa Rica) M. incognita (on Grande Naine and Gros Michel) are studied as well. Luis Pocasangre • Pratylenchus spp. are a bigger problem in plantain while R. similis is more a problem in banana. Apparently, Pratylenchus spp. cause more (Latin America) problems in Central America and the Caribbean than elsewhere. •In the Dominican Republic, R. similis was found to be the major problem on banana. Pratylenchus spp. were more serious on plantain although R. similis, Helicotylenchus and Meloidogyne spp. were also found. Patrick Quénéhervé • Musa nematode (mainly Meloidogyne) biodiversity studied as part of a project on Integrated Pest Management in collaboration with several Martinique/ national and international research groups (INRA, EMBRAPA, CIRAD-AMIS, CARBAP, PPRI). Guadeloupe Philippe Gnonhouri • Banana and plantain research has been neglected before. Nematodes are an important problem with P. coffeae now found widely spread in the (Côte d’Ivoire) Côte d’Ivoire. Svetlana Gaidashova • In Rwanda, Pratylenchus goodeyi and R. similis are found, however R. similis is never dominant. A baseline study of nematodes (and diseases) (Rwanda) on Musa is needed. Khadija Rajab • Nematodes recorded on banana are P. coffeae, Meloidogyne spp., R. similis, H. multicinctus and Helicotylenchus dihystera. (Zanzibar) Mieke Daneel • R. similis is found only in three areas. There is a distinct difference in the pathogenicity between R. similis populations from Natal and (South Africa) Mpumalanga. •Other species found are Pratylenchus spp., Meloidogyne javanica and M. incognita, R. reniformis and H. multicinctus, with Helicotylenchus and Meloidogyne spp. found in almost every sample. •A small-farmer survey showed the presence of Meloidogyne and Helicotylenchus spp. in all areas. R. similis is restricted to the Eastern Cape and Natal. Nuygen Thi Tuyet • R. similis does not occur on banana in Vietnam even though the banana cultivars grown in Vietnam are susceptible to R. similis. R. similis (Vietnam) is however found on ginger, durian, groundnut, and coffee in the highlands. The biodiversity of these R. similis populations will be investigated. Surveys will be undertaken in the central Vietnam highlands to collect more populations. • P. coffeae causes serious damage to banana in north and central Vietnam. Further studies will focus on the biodiversity of P. coffeae in Vietnam. A survey is planned in north and central Vietnam to determine the occurrence of this nematode on various crops including banana. Jean-Louis Sarah • Studies on R. similis diversity continue. Approaches on regional diversity are now tested (i.e. Cameroon with CARBAP, Brazil with (France) EMBRAPA, etc.) •A project on diversity among Pratylenchus coffeae has been undertaken. Liao Jinling • Main nematode species isolated from banana are R. reniformis (63%), Meloidogyne spp. (60%), Pratylenchus spp. (43%) and (China) Helicotylenchus spp. (45%). • R. similis has been found on flower plants and on citrus but a larger scale survey to determine the occurrence of this nematode is necessary.

Thomas Moens (CORBANA, Costa Rica), Khadija Rajab (Department of Agriculture, Josephine Namaganda (NARO, Uganda), Zanzibar), Status of nematology research Luis Pocasangre (INIBAP/CATIE, Costa Jean-Louis Sarah (CIRAD-AMIS, France), within NWG Rica), Anita Severn-Ellis (ARC-ITSC, South Africa), All participants presented an outline of their Patrick Quénéhervé (IRD, Martinique), Nguyen Thi Tuyet (VASI, Vietnam). nematological research with regard to the three research priorities: a) nematode communities and biodiversity, b) resistance screening (including methods, sources and mechanisms), and c) damage and yield loss potential of nematode populations.

Improvement of working group interactions

Mailing list In PROMUSA, a general mailing list and specific working groups’ mailing lists exist. Persons on the general mailing list will not necessarily receive mail from the working groups’ mailing lists. Interaction will depend on the members themselves, whether they choose to be involved or not. As PROMUSA Nematology working group participants in South Africa. a consequence, the success of the list will

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 PROMUSA III Resistance screening Country/Region Emilio Fernandez • Cultivars Giant Cavendish, Grande Naine, CEMSA 3/4, Burro CEMSA and Zanzibar were found to be susceptible to R. similis while SH-3436 (Cuba) and FHIA-18 were resistant. Luis Pocasangre • FHIA-01 is resistant to R. similis in the field. This is in agreement with findings in South Africa where low numbers of R similis were found (Latin America) in the roots of FHIA-01. FHIA-01 was, however, attacked by Helicotylenchus and Meloidogyne spp. This shows the importance of evaluating a cultivar against more than one nematode species. •Plantain has become very important, even for export. Horn Plantain is planted in general but is susceptible to R. similis, FHIA-20 is tolerant: good yields are obtained, even in the presence of nematodes. •In the Dominican Republic, 3 million plants of FHIA-20 will be planted to replace Horn Plantain. •In Bolivia, funding has been made available for the cultivation of alternative crops to coca. Banana and plantain cultivars (FHIA-01, FHIA-17, FHIA-18, FHIA-23 and FHIA-25) will be planted. In fact, FHIA-01 and FHIA-18 are already being cultivated with success. Patrick Quénéhervé • The resistance of Musa genotypes to Meloidogyne spp. is being examined. (Martinique/ • Musa diploids and improved hybrids are being screened for resistance to R. similis, P. coffeae and Meloidogyne spp. Guadeloupe) • A similar programme has been initiated for plantain in Guadeloupe in collaboration with CARBAP. •A study with various Musa accessions and cultivars for in vivo root infection and reproduction of Meloidogyne arenaria and M. incognita has been started. This study is also done with Pratylenchus spp. Anne-Marie Auwerkerken • Early screening assistance is provided to the Musa breeding programme of IITA in Nigeria for the evaluation of parent and hybrid lines. (IITA Nigeria) A simple cost-effective screening method based on single root inoculation is being used. based on single root inoculation is being used. Carine Dochez • Early screening assistance is provided to the Musa breeding programme of IITA in Uganda for the evaluation of landraces, wild banana, (IITA Uganda) hybrids and improved hybrids. A simple cost-effective screening method based on single root inoculation is being used. Josephine Namaganda • Involved in routine screening of cultivars for the national programme and IITA. (Uganda) Sveta Gaidashova • The old Musa genebank in Rwanda should be rejuvenated. (Rwanda) Eldad Karamura • A new genetic engineering programme has been initiated coordinated by INIBAP. NARO, IITA, CIRAD, KULeuven, JIC and Leeds University (Uganda) are also involved. The programme focuses on the introduction of foreign genes for resistance to weevils, nematodes and black Sigatoka. Kadija Rajab • Zanzibar has 26 local Musa varieties that have not yet been screened for resistance to nematodes. (Zanzibar) Nuygen Thi Tuyet • Greenhouse screening of Vietnam Musa germplasm for resistance/tolerance to P. coffeae and Meloidogyne spp. has shown differences (Vietnam) in resistance to P. coffeae but not to Meloidogyne spp. • It was found that SH-3477 as well as Yangambi Km5 show resistance to P. coffeae. Mieke Daneel • FHIA-01 was found to be more tolerant to R. similis. Chinese Cavendish was more susceptible to R. similis, compared to Williams and (South Africa) Grand Nain. Grand Nain was more susceptible to Meloidogyne spp. compared with Williams and Chinese Cavendish. •Pisang Awak (commonly grown in rural areas) is more tolerant to nematode damage. • Aeroponics (with roots suspended in the air) will be tested as a possible method for nematode resistance screening. Liao Jinling • South China Agricultural University has a collection of about 70 Musa genotypes. This collection has not yet been evaluated for nematode (China) resistance sources. Dirk de Waele • An overview is presented of all the Musa genotypes screened under greenhouse and in vitro conditions at KULeuven. (Belgium)

depend on the use thereof. It is important to remember that being communicative is part of being a member of the working group. The following suggestions for the use of the working group mailing list were made: •Make sure your name is on the correct mailing list. •Current members and new members should introduce themselves with a short description (1/2 page) summarising their activities. Members will also be requested to give a regular update of their activities. •Names of researchers that will be able to actively contribute can be nominated and added to the mailing list. • Abstracts of publications can be sent to the mailing list (by preference after the publications have been accepted for publication). This will give everyone the opportunity to have access to the publication. • MSc and PhD documents can also be Screening for nematode resistance at IITA, Namulonge, Uganda (Photo: J. V. Escalant, INIBAP). made available in this way.

IV PROMUSA INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 Damage and yield loss potential of nematodes Country/Region Luis Pocasangre • In Costa Rica, nematode damage causes a loss of on average 306 bunches/ha. At US$ 1.8 per bunch the loss is approximately of US$ 551/ha. (Costa Rica) • Due to the growing importance of plantain, a new project has been launched in Panama to determine the loss of production caused by nematodes, nematode diversity and biocontrol. Mieke Daneel • R. similis has a severe impact on banana production. (South Africa) • Meloidogyne spp. have little effect on banana production but banana is important as a host plant from which these nematodes can infect other crops in rural areas. This group of nematodes is also linked to False Panama disease. •Study on Helicotylenchus spp. is needed to determine the pathogenicity of this group of nematodes to bananas. Meloidogyne spp. are a problem because vegetables are highly susceptible to these nematodes and bananas are a good host.

• Students, training and collaborators can •More emphasis should be placed on stu- • Southeast Asia as center of origin of Musa be requested through the list. dies on the influence of nematodes on should be examined for new sources of • Available jobs can be advertised. yield loss. resistance, by preference in combination •Regional activities or meetings can be • Members are encouraged to investigate with the Fusarium working group. announced through the list. the biodiversity of nematode populations • The area where Pisang Jari Buaya origi- on banana in their own countries or nated from should be sourced for related Web site regions. resistant banana cultivars. • Various groups are currently carrying out Items for the web site should first be send to b) Molecular markers screening for resistance. It was sugges- the convenor who will ensure that the contri- Too early as a segregating population is ted that the results should be combined. butions are placed on the web site. needed to identify molecular markers. Such a population is not yet available. Suggestions for the web site: • Short introduction of each researcher of PROMUSA regional activities c) Mechanisms of resistance the working group. This could be linked to The need for basic training for nematode The mechanism of resistance might depend the researcher’s own web site or that of identification was expressed by the NARS on the type of banana. Little is known howe- her/his institution. in preparation for IMTP III. Mozambique ver about the mechanism of resistance and • References, abstracts of publications or needs training on all basic nematology it might be important to look at. links to publications and electronic publi- aspects for two persons. Inge van den Berg d) Genetic basis of inheritability cations should be listed. can provide practical nematology training in A segregating population is also needed. •A core collection of papers could be esta- South Africa. Mieke Daneel can be contac- A PROMUSA project should perhaps be blished in this way. ted in this regard. initiated. Possible partners identified are •A list of activities and meetings can be IITA is in the early stages of setting up IITA-Uganda, CIRAD- Martinique, etc. placed on the web site. training facilities in Nigeria. During the NWG meeting in Bangkok, Angola has showed interest in banana e) Nematicidal genes Thailand it was decided to develop three cultivation. The collaborative biotechnology project ini- databases that will eventually be linked to In Costa Rica screening of material will tiated in Uganda will cover these aspects. the web site: a compilation of the database be carried out by CORBANA. f) Screening on nematode communities and biodiversity A new PROMUSA regional initiative has In vitro screening is being carried out by will be facilitated by J.-L. Sarah; damage been launched in the Philippines for the KULeuven. and yield loss potential database by R. screening of Musa germplasm. A training Several members carry out greenhouse Fogain with the assistance of M. Daneel component has been included for nematolo- and field screening trials (see above). and D. Coyne, while the database on gists from the region for participation in The PROMUSA regional initiative in the sources and mechanisms of resistance will IMTP III. Philippines for the collection and screening of be facilitated by D. De Waele. A deadline Members of the NWG should bring germplasm could be used as a start-off for for the completion of the databases has researchers in their region together via a complementary project, for example in been set for the 2002 Nematology meeting small groups. Africa for the screening of the African high- to be held in Tenerife. land banana and Zanzibar germplasm for A suggestion was made that a genebank resistance. or nematode culture reference bank should Links with the Genetic All screening results are currently frag- be compiled similar to the ITC genebank for improvement working group mented and need to be collected and com- Musa. Accession numbers will be given to (GIWG) bined to provide accessible source for the nematode populations maintained. Several aspects were identified during breeders, i.e. database. the previous NWG meeting in Bangkok that g) Strategy for breeders were of importance to GIWG. Activities that Future work plan for the NWG Screening of diploids for resistance to could contribute towards genetic improve- nematodes will be carried out. ment were identified. Activities in the three main areas More input with regards to the needs of the identified a) Sources of resistance breeders is requested, i.e. type of resistance. A comment was made that there were not Breeders need to release plants for It was suggested that future activities enough sources of resistant material and screening purposes. should focus on the three main areas that the following was suggested: Not all diploid plants are available from ITC. have been identified.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 PROMUSA V IMTP III IMTP III: list of genotypes for nematological • Interaction with the other members pro- Screening for nematode resistance will be evaluation moted the sharing of information and part of the International Musa Testing On official IMTP III list techniques. Programme (IMTP) for the first time. This Pisang Jari Buaya AA ITC0312 • Opportunities for collaboration and assis- activity can involve all members. Calcutta 4 AA ITC0249 tance were created. Pisang Mas AA-Sucrier ITC0653 • Backing of PROMUSA could promote a) Musa genotypes to be screened (see list) Pisang Ceylan AAB-Mysore ITC1441 fund raising. The plants for the programme have been Cachaco ABB ITC0643 •Members felt more motivated as they indexed and are available from ITC. Saba ABB ITC1138 now contribute to a much wider cause. Several genotypes were included from FHIA-03 FHIA hybrid ITC0506 • Progress was noticed over the last ten different groups. FHIA-18 FHIA hybrid ITC1319 years. Additional plants more relevant for nema- FHIA-23 FHIA hybrid ITC1265 • By working together a global research tode resistance screening were added to FHIA-25 FHIA hybrid ITC1418 system could emerge. the official IMTP III list by D. De Waele. TMB2x9128-3 IITA hybrid ITC1437 • Research can be done more efficiently These plants were selected on the basis of TM3x15108-6 (Pita 16) IITA hybrid ITC1417 and duplication reduced. research data. Not on official IMTP III list • The advantages of PROMUSA are being It is not necessary to include all the geno- Grande Naine AAA ITC1256 recognized and now duplicated in other types on the list. Yangambi Km5 AAA ITC1123 Paka AA ITC0320 crops. b) Involvement Selangor (AA) acuminata ITC1060 The IMTP trials are not funded and partici- Kunnan AB (Ney Poovan) ITC1034 pants will have to contribute to the trial M. balbisiana BB (“Honduras”) ITC0247 Abstracts of papers through their own funding. M. balbisiana BB (“Tani”) ITC1120 and posters presented during The level of involvement will depend on Foconah AAB (Pome-Prata) ITC0649 the PROMUSA Nematology the member and could involve the standard Pisang Lemak Manis ABB ITC1183 field screening or an in-depth study. FHIA-01 FHIA-hybrid ITC0504 working group meeting c) Parameters to be recorded for field screening (minimum package) e) Nematode isolation/sampling technique Screening Musa germplasm for •A site/sites should be selected that is/are The use of a standard extraction technique resistance to Radopholus similis ecologically relevant to the region. was suggested. It was however indicated 1 1 2 • The nematode population of the site that the type of extraction would not influen- C. Dochez , D. Makumbi , A. Tenkouano 3 should be representative of the popula- ce end results as long as the standard and D. De Waele tion on banana in the region. More than controls are included in the IMTP trial. 1International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) – Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Centre (ESARC), one site could be used to evaluate diffe- The maceration and sieving technique is P O Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda rent nematode populations. suggested for the training of nematologists 2International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) – High •A survey of the site is needed, as it is and equipment can be donated/supplied. Rainfall Station Onne, Nigeria, c/o Lambourn & Co., Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon CR9 3EE, England necessary to determine the nematode 3 f) Research possibilities for the in-depth Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Laboratory of Tropical Crop population that you are working with. A Improvement, Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, 3001 Leuven, studies sample of the population could be sent to Belgium • Host-pathogen relationships. J.-L. Sarah at Montpellier for a comparati- •Pot trials with single species infestations. Worldwide, plant-parasitic nematodes are ve analysis. • Yield loss assessment by replicating the known as one of the most important biotic • An history of the site should be compiled. trial with no nematodes. Nematicides can constraints to sustainable Musa production. • Nematodes in the roots should be counted be used to ‘create’ the replicated trial In the lowlands of central Uganda, the most at flowering and at harvest. If season without nematodes. damaging nematode species is Radopholus influences the nematode populations in the • Study of differences in resistance bet- similis, while at higher elevations soil, additional root sampling is suggested ween tissue culture- and sucker-derived Pratylenchus goodeyi is the most prevalent during the season depending on the area. plant material. species. Use of nematicides to control • Root necrosis needs to be recorded • Study of influence of environment on nematodes has adverse environmental and amount of living and dead roots in a plant resistance. effects and is too costly for subsistence far- 20 x 20 x 20 cm box. •Relation between root damage (small mers. A promising alternative is the use of •All inputs/treatments should be documented. plant) and resistance. nematode resistant varieties. Such varieties • Flowering and harvest time should be • Cause of variation in resistance between can be obtained either by evaluating the recorded as well as bunch weight. Other sites. host response of existing genotypes or by yield data can be collected and can classical breeding. However, for screening be found in the INIBAP Technical Feeling about participation all available germplasm a rapid and reliable Guidelines written by Speijer and in the PROMUSA working group screening method is needed. An early De Waele (1997). • Members got to know each other on a screening method was developed at IITA, d) Planting of the trial personal level, which promoted a less which is based on the inoculation of indivi- 8-15 plants should be planted as single constrained environment for interaction. dual roots and needs less nematode inocu- plant treatments in a complete randomized •Several members felt that they were now lum and less plant material per genotype design. Plants should be treated against less isolated and found that people were compared with classic pot trials. By using black Sigatoka, if necessary. willing to help. single roots for inoculation, the host response

VI PROMUSA INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 to nematode attack is not affected by diffe- An in vitro experiment was conducted to plantain on the contrary, several species of rences in root growth rates between Musa investigate if resistance to R. similis is Pratylenchus were the most frequently genotypes. Currently germplasm is being expressed in plantlets growing in rooting found nematodes in the root systems. screened for resistance to R. similis at IITA- medium under in vitro conditions. The resis- Densities of Pratylenchus spp. up to 5400 ESARC in Uganda. The germplasm include tant and susceptible sources such as nematodes/100 g of fresh roots were found East African highland bananas (EAHB), ‘Yangambi Km5’, ‘SH-3142’, ‘Pisang Jari in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and hybrids derived from those and hybrids deri- Buaya’, ‘Gros Michel’, ‘Grande Naine’ and Costa Rica. R. similis was also found in ved from diallel crosses, including a segre- ‘Cachaco’ were tested in this study. The plantain but in lower densities than in bana- gating population. Each genotype is tested micropropagated plantlets were rooted in na roots. More nematological studies are in comparison with a resistant cultivar glass jars, which were maintained in a needed in plantain in order to design an (Yangambi Km5) and a susceptible one growth chamber at 26°C with a 16-hour adequate strategy of control for the small (Valery). Nineteen hybrids, of which five photoperiod (one replicate = 1 jar with 2 plantations in Latin America. EAHB, have been identified as resistant to plantlets). After four weeks, when plantlets R. similis with the early screening method. had formed enough roots, each one was Pot trials are in progress for confirmation of inoculated with 25 females. Eight weeks Correlation between nematode this resistance. after inoculation the total nematode popula- numbers and damage to banana tions in the roots and in the medium were (Musa AAA) roots under In vitro and in vivo determined. The preliminary results under in commercial conditions screening for resistance vitro conditions showed the resistance to R. similis of ‘Pisang Jari Buaya’ and ‘SH-3142’ 1 2 3 to Radopholus similis T. Moens , M. Araya and D. De Waele and susceptibility to R. similis of ‘Grande 1 Agreement VVOB-INIBAP-CORBANA S.A., Apdo 390, 7210 in Musa Naine’. However, ‘Yangambi Km5’ was Guápiles, Costa Rica confirmed resistant in vivo or in the field 2 CORBANA S.A., Apdo 390, 7210 Guápiles, Costa Rica N.T. Tuyet 3 Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, KULeuven, tests, but showed less resistance in the in Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, 3001 Leuven, Belgium Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute, Van Dien, Thanh Tri, vitro test. This study shows that the in vitro Hanoi, Vietnam procedure has several advantages compa- The correlation between Radopholus similis Two greenhouse experiments were carried red to greenhouse or field screening. and total nematode numbers, and grade of out with five Musa cultivars belonging to root necrosis and root damage in commer- Mysore group (AAB) and five Musa cultivars cial plantations with mixed Musa AAA cvs from the Philippines (AA) to determine Current status Grand Naine and Valery was investigated in sources of resistance and tolerance to of the nematological situation a series of four experiments. Three different Radopholus similis. The susceptible on plantain and banana root damage indices, the Australian index, ‘Grande Naine’ was chosen as the referen- in Latin America the Bridge and Gowen index and a Local ce cultivar. Each in vitro micropropagated index, were compared assessing 100 ran- plantlet was transplanted to a 12 cm-diame- L. Pocasangre1, R.A. Sikora2 and M. Araya3 domly selected root samples. Correlations 3 ter plastic pot containing about 1000 cm 1International Network for the Improvement of Banana and for the three indices were highly significant autoclaved substrate and maintained at an Plantain (INIBAP)/Centre Agronomico Tropical de and varied between 0.38 and 0.40. In a sub- ambient temperature of 25-30°C with a Investigación Y Enseñanza (CATIE), Unidad de Biotecnologia sequent experiment with the Local index, 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica 12-hour photoperiod. Eight weeks (for 2 Institut für Pflanzenkrankheiten, University of Bonn, the correlation between R. similis and total Mysore cultivars) and ten weeks (for culti- Nussallee 9, 53115 Bonn, Germany nematodes, and root necrosis and damage vars from the Philippines) after inoculation 3 Corporación Bananera Nacional (CORBANA S.A.), Apdo was not improved when measuring one or 390, 7210 Guápiles, Costa Rica with 1000 vermiforms of R. similis per plant, both root halves. Using the local index, the the plants were harvested and the number In Latin America nematodes are responsible above mentioned correlation was evaluated of nematodes per 10 g of root, root nemato- for yield reduction of up to 50% in commer- in randomly selected root samples from de populations, fresh root weight and per- cial banana plantations. Typical nematode mother plants and their respective follower centage of root necrosis were assessed. control consists of two or three application suckers in a third experiment. Mean root Variability was seen between cultivars of nematicides per year. The majority of necrosis and damage grade in mother roots belonging to Mysore group in terms of root nematological research in Latin America were double those of follower sucker roots. nematode populations. ‘Gorolo’ was consi- has been conducted in large commercial Correlation coefficients between R. similis dered the least susceptible to R. similis with banana plantations and information is spar- and total nematodes, and root necrosis and the total number of nematodes recovered se about the nematodes species attacking damage in follower suckers ranged between was 32 562 and the percentage of root plantain. In this survey, nematological stu- 0.41 and 0.48, and were always significant. necrosis was 22.81 %. ‘Lady Finger dies were conducted in commercial banana In contrast, these correlations using mother (Nelson)’ was shown to be highly suscep- and plantain plantations in several countries roots were never significant. In the last tible to R. similis damage with final popula- in Latin America viz. Bolivia, Costa Rica, experiment, roots from mother plants and tion was 99 009 nematodes and 33.13 % of Guatemala, Honduras and Dominican their respective follower suckers were root necrosis. This susceptibility was not Republic. The results of this survey show arranged in 10 different damage classes. significantly different from ‘Grande Naine’. that the nematode species of major concern R. similis and total nematode numbers were The results of five cultivars from the in commercial banana plantation is correlated with root necrosis and damage Philippines demonstrated that most of them Radopholus similis. Densities of R. similis for 0-5, 6-10 and 0-10 damage groups. were as susceptible to R. similis as ‘Grande up to 45 000/100 g of fresh roots were Correlations were highest for root necrosis Naine’. found in Guatemala and Costa Rica. In and R. similis in 0-5 interval, ranging bet-

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 PROMUSA VII ween 0.62 (P # 0.0002) for mother roots nematicides were fenamiphos (Nemacur®), suspension of 50 females of R. similis was and 0.75 (P # 0.0001) for sucker roots. ethoprophos (Mocap®) and carbofuran poured on each individual root. Eight weeks (Furadan®). Grade of biodegradation was later, the number of nematodes was counted Management of nematodes measured through a biological test, develo- and a Dunnett’s T-test was done to compare of banana systems in Uganda ped by Pattison et al. After sampling the soil the square root transformed mean reproduc- around various banana plants, 3 subsamples tion ratio. Fourteen hybrids showed a repro- J.M. Namaganda1, S. Gowen2, of 5 kg were taken and received a different duction rate not significantly different from P. Namanya1 and I. Kashaija3 treatment. One batch served as untreated Yangambi Km5. These hybrids included four 1Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, P.O Box 7065, control, the second was sterilized and hybrids from 2x-4x crosses, seven hybrids Kampala, Uganda applied with nematicide at 10 µg a.i./g of soil that have the resistant hybrid TMP2x9128-3 2University of Reading, Department of Agriculture, Earley and the third was only applied with nematici- in their pedigree and the tetraploid hybrids Gate, P.O Box 236, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 2AT, United Kingdom de at 10 µg/g of soil. Starting from the day of A10-SPS-548-9 and 7152-2. The latter is 3Kachwekano Agricultural Research and Development Centre, treatment, maize was planted in little reci- known as the promising hybrid PITA 14. The Kabale, Uganda pients filled with around 60 g of soil of these selected hybrids supported a significantly three batches, and inoculated with 500 lower nematode reproduction rate and are The host status of weed and crop species Radopholus similis. Plantlets were harvested therefore interesting for further evaluation. commonly associated with banana fields to one week later and the number of nema- the banana nematodes Radopholus similis, todes penetrated in the maize root over this Helicotylenchus multicinctus and Preliminary results of treatments period was counted. This procedure was Pratylenchus goodeyi was studied in for replanting in bananas repeated every 2 weeks up to 8 weeks. screenhouse experiments. The weed spe- (poster) The existence of enhanced biodegrada- cies Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa, tion was clearly observed for the three Commelina benghalensis, Crassocephalum M. Daneel, D. Mdluli, K. De Jager, nematicides used. Already two weeks after crepidioides, Cyperus esculentus, Digitaria J. Husselman and C. Neethling initiation of the evaluation, nematode num- scalarum, Eleusine indica, Galinsoga parvi- ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag bers in the nematicide-treated batches were X11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa flora, Senecio disfolius and Tagetes minuta the same as in the untreated control for were non-hosts of the three banana nema- Replanting of bananas has always been a each of the three nematicides. This means todes. Amaranthus sp., Digitaria velutina problem, especially where Radopholus that two weeks after application the active and Solanum nigrum were poor hosts of H. similis is present. Nematode infestation of ingredient completely lost its effect. These multicinctus while D. velutina was also a tissue-cultured plants is a huge problem results show the importance of nematicide poor host of P. goodeyi. Cassava and sweet because of the low tolerance levels of the rotation. Further investigation on other fre- potato were non-hosts of the three nema- small plantlets. Several replant treatments quently used nematicides and under diffe- todes, groundnut a non-host of P. goodeyi for both commercial and rural farmers are rent soil and climate conditions is needed. and the phaseolus bean and maize poor being tested. Treatments used are methyl hosts of P. goodeyi. bromide (MB), metam-sodium (Herbifume), In on-station and on-farm field experi- New Musa hybrids plastic cover, sugarcane, kraal manure, ments aimed at devising cropping with resistance deep hole, PL Plus, aldicarb, water pasteu- sequences that would minimize nematode to Radopholus similis rization and fallow. Treatments began in damage and enable acceptable levels of September 1999 with planting of sugarcane banana production to be maintained, bana- (poster) followed by plastic cover in November and na nematode population densities declined the application of kraal manure in 1 1 2 to negligible levels after 13 months with a A. Auwerkerken , I. Rotifa , D. De Waele December. Herbifume was applied at the 1 break crop of cassava or sweet potato plan- and A. Tenkouano end February and MB in April. PL Plus and ted immediately after a nematode infested 1International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o Temik were applied at planting, which was Lambourn & Co., Carolyn House, 26 Dingwall Road, Croydon banana crop. CR9 3EE, England done in June 2000. Preliminary results sho- 2Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, KU Leuven, wed huge differences in initial growth rate Enhanced biodegradation Kasteelpark, Arenberg 13, 3001 Leuven, Belgium between the different treatments, with MB the tallest plants followed by plastic cover, potential of banana soils The burrowing nematode Radopholus similis Herbifume and kraal manure. The lowest is one of the major nematode species attac- nematode numbers in roots were found in T. Moens king banana and plantain. Incorporation of MB followed by Temik, plastic cover, kraal Agreement VVOB-INIBAP-CORBANA S.A., Apdo 390, 7210 resistance through plant breeding is an Guápiles, Costa Rica manure and Herbifume. advantageous form of nematode control. The The phenomenon that regular application of screening experiment was established in a the same nematicide to the soil decreases shade house at the IITA High Rainfall Station Pest and disease complexes the efficiency of the used product is widely at Onne in Southern Nigeria (7°E, 5°N, of Musa in rural farming systems known. This is probably due to a selection 10 masl). Three suckers from each hybrid (poster) for microorganisms able to decompose the and two reference cultivars, Yangambi Km5 1 2 1 active compounds. In this series of experi- (resistant) and Valery (susceptible) were M. Daneel ,N.Dillen , J. Husselman , K. De 1 2 ments in a commercial banana plantation, planted together in sawdust in wooden Jager and D. De Waele enhanced biodegradation was induced by boxes. Four weeks after planting, a small 1ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa applying the same nematicide every four plastic cup was placed on three of the emer- 2Laboratory of Tropical Crop Improvement, KU Leuven, months for at least five times. Tested ged roots at about 5 cm from the corm. A Kasteelpark Arenberg 13, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

VIII PROMUSA INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 A survey was carried out in the rural areas in the glasshouse. Plants were infested ming. The objective of this study was to of South Africa to determine production, cul- with a mixed population of Radopholus compare different cleaning techniques for tivars and the pest and disease complexes similis, Meloidogyne spp. and banana planting material in terms of their on Musa spp. Bananas are found from the Helicotylenchus spp. One month later, influence on plant growth parameters and northern part of the Northern Province applications were made at two intervals, 14 nematode damage. On-station experiment (Venda), downwards in the eastern part of days apart and plants were evaluated two was established in Rubona with highland the Northern Province and Mpumalanga, in months later. Treatments were Agent X cultivar Mbwaziruma and comprised four Swaziland as well as the coastal areas of combined with PL Plus, PL Plus, Agent X treatments: 1) paring of suckers before KwaZulu-Natal to as far as Eastern Cape combined with PL251, Agent X, Nemacur planting; 2) paring and sun drying for three (old Transkei). However, bananas are never GR and an untreated control. Results sho- days at 25-30°C; 3) hot water treatment for found in more than two to five mats per hou- wed that plants treated with Nemacur GR 20 min at 55°C and 4) normal farmer’s plan- sehold. Nematodes were present in all had the lowest numbers of nematodes in ting method. Attendance of suckers was samples, with Meloidogyne spp. being the the roots followed by PL Plus, Agent X & observed twice: at two and four weeks after most abundant. Other species found were PL Plus and Agent X. Plants treated with planting. Plant growth parameters and spiral nematodes and in a few cases Agent X alone or in combination had the nematode damage were observed 5, 10 Radopholus similis and Pratylenchus cof- highest plant mass. However, a root necro- and 14 months after planting (MAP). Sun- feae. The most commonly planted cultivar is sis index confirmed that the combination of dried suckers showed significantly (p<0.05) Pisang Awak (ABB), followed by Cavendish Agent X and PL Plus is a better option for lower level of attendance two weeks after (AAA), but in much lower numbers. bananas as it reduced nematode numbers planting. However, no difference was obser- Plantains were found at five sites. The less and increased growth potential, making the ved between treatments two weeks later. As sweet tasting Pisang Awak seems to be plant more tolerant against nematodes. a consequence, the same treatment (sun tolerant to nematodes and leaf diseases exposure) showed significantly lower growth and is also more drought resistant. It there- Effect of different cleaning parameters (p<0.05) 5 MAP. Later no diffe- fore appears to be more adapted to the cli- techniques for planting material rence was observed. Nematode damage matic and environmental conditions as well on banana plant growth and was significantly (p<0.05) higher with as the specific cultural practices followed by control than any other treatments, 10 and communities in rural areas. nematode damage 14 MAP. Preliminary results indicate that (poster) effects of all tested cleaning techniques Is a growth stimulant an effective were comparable and show significant S.V. Gaidashova, C.M. Gatarayiha, reduction in nematode damage. Therefore, agent to reduce nematode A. Nsabimana and B. Uwimpuhwe damage on banana plants? the cheapest and less labour/resource ISAR (Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda), consuming technique (1st and 2nd treat- B.P.138, Butaré, Rwanda (poster) ments) could be recommended for small- Nematodes are recognized as a major scale farmers. M. Daneel, A. De la Bretesche, banana pest usually transmitted in new J. Husselman, K. De Jager and fields through infested suckers. Different C. Neethling techniques for planting material cleaning ARC-Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag were suggested by scientists but, actually, X11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa they are applied rarely and by a limited Several products have been tested for number of small-scale farmers because control of nematodes on banana plantlets they are costly and labour/resource consu-

Since the 2nd PROMUSA global meeting Convenors of the Working in 1998 groups of PROMUSA During the 3rd Global Meeting of PROMUSA, the participants proceeded with Since the second global PROMUSA mee- the exchange of information and work both the election of the new convenors of the dif- ting, held in Douala, Cameroon, in within and between the working groups. ferent working groups of PROMUSA. November 1998, INIBAP, in its role as • Genetic improvement: PROMUSA secretariat, has begun to deve- Steering Committee Dr Jaroslav Dolezel, IEB, lop different mechanisms whose aims are to and Czech Rep. establish and ensure an information flow of PROMUSA Dr Sathiamoorthy, NRCB, INDIA between members of the various PROMU- In consultation with the respective regional •Sigatoka: Dr. Jean Carlier, SA working groups (Fusarium, Genetic and sub-regional organizations, it has been CIRAD, France Improvement, Nematology, Sigatoka, agreed that the banana regional networks • Nematodes: Prof. Dirk de Waele, Virology). The nomination of Core Groups (MUSALAC, MUSACO, BAPNET and BAR- KULeuven, Belgium with respective Chairpersons, within the NESA) could nominate representatives • Virology: Dr Jackie Hughes, IITA, Nigeria individual working groups has been comple- for NARS in the steering committee of • Fusarium: Dr Suzy Bentley, ted, and once again the aim is to facilitate PROMUSA. QDPI, Australia

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 PROMUSA IX Progress within (IPGRI/INIBAP), an Advanced Research who met in Washington DC from 17-20 July, Institute from the Montpellier platform 2001. During this meeting, all the partners the PROMUSA global (CIRAD) and a Research Institute from the worked together in the fine-tuning of the programme Brazilian National Agricultural Research strategy, focusing on the activities to be System (EMBRAPA). A researcher from developed and how to share their develop- The spirit of collaboration and partnerships EMBRAPA, who is on secondment to ment between the different partners. The has developed considerably both during INIBAP, is carrying out the work in the labo- meeting has also been an important oppor- and since the last global meeting. Specific ratories of CIRAD in Montpellier, France. tunity for the partners to develop different areas of collaboration include: A new project has been accepted to be concept notes to further develop full project funded by the French Government on proposals to be submitted to donors. Genetic improvement “Structural and functional genomics of European partners within the consortium working group banana streak virus sequence integration agreed to develop a project proposal to be into the Musa genome”. This project, sub- submitted before the 15th of October 2001 in Good interactions have taken place bet- mitted in the framework of the “Agropolis the framework of the 5th PCRD programme ween the Sigatoka and Genetic improve- Advanced Research Platform” involves an of the EU. ment working groups in the framework of International Agricultural Research Centre Different segregating populations already the International Musa Testing Programme (IPGRI/INIBAP), an Advanced Research exist (or soon will exist) with different levels (IMTP). The IMTP phase II is finished and Institute from the Montpellier platform of accessibility. INIBAP, in collaboration the results are published. In order to facilitate (CIRAD) and two Research Institutes: with CIRAD-FLHOR in Guadeloupe, FWI, access and visibility of the results, a databa- CINVESTAV, Mexico and IIHR, India. will facilitate the development of these se will soon be available on the PROMUSA Researchers from both institutions will carry populations and their availability to all the web site and as a CD-ROM. out the work in the laboratories of CIRAD in PROMUSA participants. Phase III of IMTP has been initiated and Montpellier, France. more than 30 institutions have already The project novel approaches to the agreed to participate. A catalogue of 27 improvement of banana production in Sigatoka working group candidates (hybrids, landraces and soma- Eastern Africa implemented by INIBAP in Different activities have been initiated clonal variants) has been developed, where collaboration with different local, regional to develop a detailed understanding of people can choose from those that they are and international institutions (NARO, population structures of the pathogens interested in. Makerere University and IITA, Uganda, Mycosphaerella sp. The contacts between all the PROMUSA KULeuven University, Belgium and CIRAD, Priority has been given to Asia: a project working groups has enabled the Genetic France) aims to develop biotechnology was developed to be presented in the fra- improvement working group to establish capacities to facilitate the improvement of mework of the 5th PCRDT/INCO-DEV: lists of priorities within each research East African Highland Bananas. “Breeding of bananas for Southeast Asian theme: Sigatoka, virus, nematology and production: Identification of resistant wild Fusarium. germplasm to the leaf spot diseases”. Close collaboration has been initiated Genomics on banana A collaborative initiative has been set up between CIRAD-FLHOR, CRBP (now Following a suggestion made during the first at a regional level in Asia involving several CARBAP) and IEB with the development of symposium on “Molecular and Cellular countries in to characterize the “Sigatoka” a new technology to purify chromosome Biology of Banana” carried out at Cornell diseases present in their country and to par- fractions. This would be very useful for University in 1999, a PROMUSA workshop ticipate in the study of the geographical dis- Musa genome analysis and mapping. on Musa genomics was organized on 6-8 tribution of the different pathogens: Discussions are being held between diffe- April 2000 in Montpellier, France. Toward the Mycosphaerella musicola, M. fijiensis and rent members of the group in order to get end of the meeting a remarkable degree of the new disease: M. eumusae. more funds so as to develop one or more consensus for the Banana Genomics initiati- This initiative is part of other different stu- proposals. ve was reached. All parties agreed to form a dies already ongoing in Latin America and DNA markers to improve plantains and Banana Genomic consortium. PROMUSA Africa in collaboration with CIRAD-AMIS, starchy bananas have been submitted to the offers a good framework in which to assume France. European Union in the framework of the worldwide leadership in the new initiative on Efficiency, durability and management of PCRDT/INCO-DEV. The project was develo- banana genomics public research, through resistance have also been identified as stra- ped between different partners of the development and implementation of a tegic research to be developed. In this PROMUSA: University of Reading in UK, visionary strategy and whose activities will context, studies have been initiated on the KULeuven in Belgium, Frankfurt University in be developed within the Banana genomics analysis of resistance (CIRAD/CARBAP, IITA Germany, IEB in Czech republic, CRBP in consortium. The consortium will bring toge- and FHIA). Collaboration between breeding Cameroon, NARO in Uganda and INIBAP. ther and enhance combined expertise (from programmes would allow a better understan- A project has been developed and has both the public and private sector). ding on what genes are involved, and which been accepted to be funded by the French The 2nd international symposium on mechanisms are inherited (PR, HR). Government on “Mapping of the Musa acu- “Molecular and Cellular Biology of Banana” Development of early screening methods: minata translocation break points through was organized in Byron Bay, Australia from An artificial inoculation method under molecular cytogenetics”. This project, sub- the 31st of October to the 3rd of November controlled conditions is being developed mitted in the framework of the “Agropolis 2000. between CIRAD and CARBAP. Leaf frag- Advanced Research Platform” involves an The Banana genomics consortium has ments are maintained through in vitro condi- International Agricultural Research Centre been extended with several new partners tions after inoculation with conidia.

X PROMUSA INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 Nematology working group FUSAGx will investigate the reduction in regarding the use of clean planting material the level of activation of episomal BSV in and resistant varieties. Initiative for collaborative work: tissue culture. The FWG reviewed and updated the Screening/evaluation experiments and John Innes Centre, Univ. of Minnesota, report of the Fusarium wilt working group trials through a “modular” type global pro- FUSAGx, KULeuven and CIRAD will colla- prepared after the first global PROMUSA ject, which could contain different project borate in the investigation of differences meeting (Guadeloupe, March 1997). The components (different sources of funding). between Musa varieties in the activation of revised document is now available via the The third meeting of the Nematology episomal BSV during tissue culture. PROMUSA website. working group (NWG) was held 24–25 CIRAD, Univ. of Minnesota and John May 2001 in Hulala Lakeside Lodge, Innes Centre will work on the understanding Hazyview, South Africa (see report in this Publications of the mechanism of activation. issue) on the occasion of the 15th Major activities and progress within the CIRAD and Univ. of Minnesota will inves- Symposium of the Nematological Society framework of PROMUSA are published twice tigate the linkage of integrated sequences of Southern Africa (NSSA). During this a year in a specific section of INFOMUSA. (e.g. to B genome) and the genetic mecha- meeting participants had the opportunity to Abstracts, publications, meeting reports, nisms involved in activation and multiplica- define all complementary research activi- visits, congress information etc. tion of integrated BSV in Musa sp. ties with the Genetic improvement working Seven PROMUSA sections have now A project proposal had been developed group. been published in INFOMUSA and the enti- to be presented in the framework of the Different results obtained in the frame- re collection is available on the PROMUSA 5th PCRDT/INCO-DEV.: “Thematic: BSV work of PROMUSA have been published website: http://www.promusa.org/publica- virus, new molecules as inhibitor of retrovi- with a special acknowledgement and reco- tions/publication.htm rus; serological tools; clean up plant from gnition of PROMUSA. Technical guidelines facilitate methodolo- Potex; Potex diagnostic tools; genetic 1)Host plant response of banana (Musa gies for our partners and are also very help- aspect of the activitation of the inserted viral spp.) cultivars from Southeast Asia to ful for training purposes: The INIBAP techni- sequency.” nematodes by R. Stoffelen, Vu Thi Thanh cal guidelines No. 5, “Cryopreservation of The project is being modified so that it can Tam, R. L. Swennen and D. De Waele. Musa germplasm” published in 2001, have be represented in the framework of the new International Journal of Nematology been developed between different partici- call for proposals of the PCRDT/INCO-DEV. (1999) Vol. 9(2): 130-136. pants from PROMUSA. A collaborative project has been develo- 2) Host plant response of Fusarium wilt resis- ped between IITA, PPRI and QDPI on the Different proceedings of Banana scientific tant Musa genotypes to Radopholus similis Banana Die Back Virus (BDBV) events have also been published in the and Pratylenchus coffeae by R. Stoffelen, PROMUSA section of INFOMUSA: R. Verlinden, J. Pinochet, R. L. Swennen • International symposium on the molecular and D. De Waele. International Journal of Fusarium working group and cellular biology of bananas, 22-25 Pest Management (accepted). The third meeting of the Fusarium working March 1999 in Ithaca, NY, USA. group (FWG) was held from 21-22 October, • FAO/IAEA 3rd Research coordination 1999 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the meeting of the collaborative research pro- Virology working group occasion of the International Seminar ject on “Cellular biology and biotechnolo- “Fusarium wilt of banana: towards sustai- This group focussed on activities identi- gy, including mutation techniques for nable cultivation”. fied as priorities within PROMUSA and dis- creation of new useful banana geno- Full details of recommendations for tributed tasks between the different teams. types”. This meeting was organized from action, research opportunities and possible 4-8 October 1999 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, partners for collaboration have been establi- Development of reliable virus detection by the International Atomic Energy shed and published in the PROMUSA sec- methods to prevent dispersal of virus Agency (IAEA). tion of INFOMUSA 8(2). infected germplasm, to define and limit The discussions on Fusarium wilt mana- A PROMUSA web site has been set up geographical distribution and to improve gement issues involved issues related to and is now available at the following detection methods reflecting those in pathogen diversity, disease management address: http://www.promusa.org/ virus indexing procedures strategies, epidemiology and other relevant QDPI and CIRAD will work together to research issues. It was noted that there is a establish that Onne strain of BSV is a major need for training in the use of DAF and PROMUSA Listservers strain present as episomal infection in VCG techniques, and that further collection One general list called PROMUSA (promu- germplasm. and analysis of samples is still required in [email protected]) and five sub-lists have been FUSAGx and QDPI will develop IC-PCR some parts of the world. It was recommen- set up: for BSV + Potex. ded that a centralized database of Fusarium • PROMUSAGEN([email protected]) FUSAGx and JIC will work on PCR pro- oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc) genetic • PROMUSASIG ([email protected]) cedures to differentiate integrated and epi- diversity be developed and that this be lin- for Sigatoka somal BSV sequences to detect low or no ked with information regarding the reaction • PROMUSANEM([email protected]) symptoms in plants. of landraces/hybrids to Foc (e.g. MGIS for Nematology QDPI and CIRAD will revise detection database). • PROMUSAVIR ([email protected]) procedures for Virus Indexing Centers. In relation to disease management strate- for Virology and BSV: To eliminate particular viruses as a gies, the need for education and farmer- • PROMUSAFUS ([email protected]) constraint to production. awareness was highlighted, especially for Fusarium.

INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2 PROMUSA XI Meeting announcements

nd the convenor of the working group. However, International symposium on the Molecular 2 International workshop as you may already know, INIBAP cannot and cellular biology of bananas to be held on Sigatoka leaf spot diseases assume the participation costs for all the parti- in Leuven, Belgium from 9 to 11 September of bananas cipants and we would appreciate very much 2002. if you could use the opportunity of the Contacts: Costa Rica, 20-23 May 2002 2nd International workshop on Sigatoka leaf Prof. Rony Swennen, KULeuven, Belgium [email protected] spot diseases on banana to find any grant or Until the 1970s, plantain, as well as other popu- Jean-Vincent Escalant, INIBAP support to participate in sharing the costs. [email protected] lar banana cultivars grown for local consump- We will rely on the convenor of the working tion, were not seriously affected by major group to communicate further details on the diseases. However, the rapid expansion of the workplan. Meeting of the PROMUSA black leaf streak/black Sigatoka disease Contacts: Genetic improvement and (Mycosphaerella fijiensis) in the 1980s caused Jean-Vincent Escalant, Secretary of PROMUSA: enough damage for small producers to encoura- [email protected] Virology working groups ge INIBAP to organize the 1st International work- Jean Carlier, convenor of the Sigatoka working group: [email protected] Leuven, Belgium, shop on Sigatoka leaf spot diseases of bananas Gillian Moffatt, Programme Assistant INIBAP: in San José, Costa Rica in March 1989. [email protected] 13-14 September 2002 The organization of the 2nd international Taking the opportunity of the 3rd International workshop on Sigatoka leaf spot diseases of Meeting of the PROMUSA symposium on Molecular and cellular biology bananas, including mainly black leaf streak, on banana, a meeting of both the Genetic Sigatoka and Septoria diseases, is planned to Nematology working group Improvement and Virology working groups of take place in San José, Costa Rica from 20 to 7-13 June 2002 PROMUSA will be organized back-to-back to 23 May 2002. the symposium on 13 and 14 September 2002. During the 4th International Congress of The workshop should facilitate the analysis This meeting will take place in Leuven, Nematology in Tenerife 2002 (June 7-13), the of the current situation on the banana leaf spot Belgium. members of the PROMUSA Nematology wor- diseases (Sigatoka, black Sigatoka and The meeting will not only facilitate the analy- king group present at the congress will have Septoria) all around the world. sis of the current situation on the different activi- the opportunity to meet under the coordination In order to maximize the outputs of the mee- ties developed in the framework of PROMUSA, of the convenor of the working group Prof. Dirk ting and to guarantee the development of new but will also refine the orientation for the groups de Waele. strategies to help in the control of the different and help develop new concept notes in order to diseases mentioned above, the participation to For further details, please contact: facilitate the writing up of project proposals. [email protected]. this workshop will be only on invitation, and During these two days, the working groups will be extended by the organizing committee rd will meet separately in two different rooms. after consulting with the scientific committee. 3 International symposium However, it has been suggested by both bree- on the Molecular and cellular ders and virologists to have also a joint meeting biology of bananas to discuss the Banana Streak Virus (BSV) pro- Meeting of the PROMUSA blematics faced by the breeders in the creation Sigatoka working group Leuven, Belgium, of new hybrids. Details on the organization of 9-11 September 2002 this meeting will be communicated later. Guápiles, Costa Rica, The participation to the meeting will be as The first international symposium on the 24-25 May 2002 usual only on invitation, and will be extended Molecular and cellular biology of bananas, held by the Secretariat (INIBAP) in agreement with We would like to take advantage of the organi- in March 1999 at Cornell University in Ithaca, the convenors of the working groups. zation of the 2nd International Workshop on USA, was organized to create a forum where However, as you may already know, INIBAP Sigatoka leaf spot diseases on banana to all those involved in the molecular and cellular cannot assume the participation costs for all organize back-to-back the meeting of the biology of bananas would have an opportunity the participants and would appreciate very Sigatoka working group of PROMUSA on 24- to meet and exchange ideas about their much if you could use the opportunity of the 3rd 25 May 2002. research activities. The meeting was a resoun- International symposium on Molecular and cel- This meeting will take place at the Escuela ding success and the concept continued the- lular biology on banana to find any grant or de Agricultura para el Trópico Húmedo reafter under the auspices of PROMUSA. support to participate in sharing the costs. (EARTH), Guápiles, Costa Rica. During the 2nd symposium, held in October The convenors of the working groups will The meeting will not only facilitate the analy- 2001, in Byron Bay, Australia, participants pre- communicate further details on the workplan. sis of the current situation on the different activi- sented their research activities on different ties developed in the framework of PROMUSA, topics including Genomics, Gene expression Contacts: but will also refine the orientation for the group in transgenic plants, Plant pathology and Jean-Vincent Escalant, Secretary of PROMUSA: [email protected] and help develop new concept notes in order to disease resistance, Biodiversity and evolution, Jackie Hughes, Convenor Virology working group: facilitate the writing up of project proposals. Biochemistry and fruit ripening, Intellectual [email protected] The participation to this meeting will be as property and genetically modified organisms. Jaroslav Dolezel, Convenor Genetic improvement working group: [email protected] usual only on invitation, and will be extended INIBAP and KULeuven are pleased to Gillian Moffatt, Programme Assistant INIBAP: by the Secretariat (INIBAP) in agreement with announce the organization of the 3rd [email protected]

XII PROMUSA INFOMUSA — Vol 10, N° 2