DA-BAR Terminal Report 2017: Mitigating Banana Fusarium Wilt

Department of Agriculture Bureau of Agricultural Research RDMIC Bldg., Elliptical Rd. Cor. Visayas Ave., Diliman, Q.C. 1104 Phone Nos.: (632) 928-8624 & 928-8505 ℵ Fax: (632) 927-5691 Email: [email protected] ℵ Website: http//www.bar.gov.ph

PROJECT TERMINAL REPORT

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Title of the Project Project 1. Mitigating Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 Through a Farmer-participatory Approach of Developing Disease Management Strategies.

Project 2. Enhancing Capacities of Farmers, Extension Agents and Local Researchers Towards the Effective Management of Foc for Small-Scale Cavendish Banana Sector

2. Proponent Dr. Agustin B. Molina Jr. Regional Coordinator Bioversity International-Asia-Pacific Office 3/F Khush Hall, IRRI, Los Baños, Laguna (63) 49 536 0532; (63) 2 580 5600 Ext. 2874 (63) 49 536 0532 [email protected]

3. Implementing Agency 3.1. Lead Agency Bioversity International

3.2. Collaborating Agency Dr. Lorna Herradura Agriculture Center Chief IV Bureau of Plant Industry-Davao National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-DNCRDC)

Dr. Susan T. Razo Officer In-Charge Integrated Laboratory Division Department of Agriculture XI

Dr. Lavernee Gueco University Researcher Institute of Plant Breeding Crop Science Cluster, College of Agriculture University of the Philippines Los Baños 4031 College, Laguna

Farmer-Cooperators

4. Funding Agency Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR)

5. Budget Project 1. PhP 9,667,876 ($224,834) Project 2. PhP 5,536,832 ($126,464)

6. Project Duration 3 years (2012-2016) Jan- September 2016 (9-month extension)

7. Project Location Davao Provinces (Region 11)

8. Date Covered by this Report September 2012 to June 2016

Executive Summary

Epidemics of Fusarium wilt caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) in Cavendish plantations in the Philippines (Molina et al 2008) are a serious concern to the sustainability of the Philippine banana industry. The Philippines is the major banana exporter in Asia with its more than 80,000 hectares of Cavendish plantations, grown by both big companies and small growers. In 2014, the country registered its highest ever export earnings from the banana export. Small growers are more vulnerable because they lack technical capabilities to manage the disease and financial resources to sustain losses to the disease compared to big growers. Although there is no verified industry data of the actual extent of epidemics, the association of small growers reported that about 3,000 hectares have been abandoned due to severe infection, and around 6,000 hectares are infested in various levels of incidence.

Both adaptation to the new threat and mitigation of damage have been the priority of Bioversity International and its partners in the Banana Asia-Pacific Network. The use of a disease-resistant variety finds its place as a part of the integrated approach of disease management. Bioversity carried out a series of field evaluations in public-private partnerships of resistant Cavendish somaclones that were shared by the Taiwan Banana Research Institute. Results of earlier trials showed that giant Cavendish tissue culture cultivar (GCTCV) 219 was most resistant among the tested GCTCVs even when planted in severely affected areas. A project was later developed with Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) where GCTCV 219 was out-scaled among small growers with the aim of evaluating, promoting and adopting GCTCV 219 by them, thus rehabilitating severely affected farms. Twenty growers participated in the pilot trials, where seedlings of GCTCV 219 were distributed free to collaborators for planting.

In those trials, GCTCV 219 proved highly resistant to Foc TR4. Consequently, it was recommended for the rehabilitation of severely affected and abandoned farms of small growers. It delivered acceptable yields to cooperators who provided good care to the plants such as proper fertilization and population control, much better than simply abandoning their farms, as Grande Naine was no longer productive because it was highly susceptible to Foc TR4. In spite of its relatively inferior yield performance, GCTCV 219 is sweeter than Grand Naine; applying this advantage, some growers developed a special package for a niche market in Japan. GCTCV 219 is taller, longer-maturing, has lower box-stem ratio and is more of a floater and thus prone to yield decline with time. Growers are satisfied with the level of disease resistance of GCTCV 219, but low productivity and fruit quality remain as main concerns.

Subsequent replicated trials conducted with Lapanday Fruits Corp showed that another resistant somaclone, GCTCV 218 had high potential for adoption. GCTCV 218 was moderately resistant to Foc TR4, but yield, agronomic traits, and postharvest characteristics were closer

3 to those of Grand Naine. In commercial trials carried out with Lapanday, GCTCV 218 and 219 remained resistant even after 4 ratoons, while Grande Naine became severely infected even in the primary crop. GCTV 218, moderately resistant to Foc TR4, is more acceptable to growers. It has big bunches and thus high box-stem ratio, and fruit quality is as good as Grand Naine. Fruits can be packed and ripened together with Grand Naine, and are acceptable in current markets. Agronomically, GCTCV 218 is taller than Grand Naine, similar to Tall Williams, but has longer maturity by two to three weeks.

Overall, GCTCV 218 is more acceptable by both small growers and big companies. As an outcome of this project, GCTCV 218 is now commercially used in rehabilitating severely affected farms, and is a part of the integrated program in reducing spread and severity of Foc TR4 infestations. Big companies through their own tissue culture laboratories are now mass- producing millions of GCTCV 218 towards rehabilitation. To date, more than 1,000 hectares have been replanted. Meanwhile, the Philippines government has launched a PhP 100 million-plus program to help small growers to rehabilitate affected farms and sustain livelihoods by an integrated approach around the use of GCTCV 218 and 219. Additionally, the planting of these varieties with tissue culture seedlings at a commercial scale provides an opportunity for recurrent selection for more improved phenotypes.

While prevention of incursion to unaffected areas is the fundamental approach of Fusarium wilt management, where epidemics are causing damage in banana plantations, currently the use of available resistant varieties is the only major option to manage epidemics. In the absence of other varieties from other breeding programs, the available GCTCVs are the best our farmers could have at this time to save their livelihoods. It is highly important that their livelihoods be protected now.

The success of the GCTCVs highlights the effectiveness of tissue culture somaclonal variant selection as an approach to banana improvement. This is contrary to the articulations of some molecular scientists that only through the GMO approach can a resistant variety be developed.

This report covers the conduct of the following two projects from September 2012 to June 2016:

Project 1. Mitigating Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 through a Farmer- Participatory Approach of Developing Disease Management Strategies

Project 2. Enhancing Capacities of Farmers, Extension Agents and Local Researchers towards the Effective Management of Foc for Small-Scale Cavendish Banana Sector

Recent announcements by the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the independent growers' cooperatives indicated that many farms were now severely affected by the deadly Fusarium wilt of banana caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4). The industry sought help from the government to address this serious threat and mitigate losses.

If uncontrolled, the pathogen Foc TR4 could potentially wipe out the whole banana industry in these islands, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars (PhP 720 million/ US$ 14.6 million) per annum in the export of the Cavendish variety. That would have deprived 320,000 people of direct employment, mostly small-scale independent growers. It is very important to note that almost 50% of the Cavendish for export is grown by these small growers, who are thus greatly adversely affected.

Project 1 was designed to generate integrated disease management strategies, including early diagnosis and appropriate eradication techniques, via active farmer participation. Field plantings of Cavendish cultivars previously developed in Taiwan to be resistant to Foc TR4. These were the GCTCV 218 and GCTCV 219 cultivars, which were subsequently found to be resistant to the disease in preliminary field trials conducted by Bioversity International with a commercial company. The subsequent plantings were carried out as a farmer-participatory field selection process to further improve the varieties in the field.

In conjunction with Project 1, Project 2 was conducted to enhance the capacities of farmers, extension agents and local researchers towards the effective management of Foc TR4 for the small-scale Cavendish banana sector, as this was the one deeply affected by the Fusarium wilt disease. Towards this end, Farmers' Field Days were conducted, each one building on the concept that farmers learn optimally through participatory learning and direct observation. In field visits, farmers had the opportunities to exchange ideas, experiences and to actually witness what was happening on-ground. This encouraged peer learning.

Peer and field learnings were also encouraged among local researchers, extension agents, and national/international researchers.

IEC materials and learning modules were also produced to help increase awareness and knowledge of key stakeholders, as well as for them to appreciate the approaches and methodologies applied in the projects.

Capacity-building activities were built around the thematic issues of disease management, key production practices related to disease management, and postharvest concerns related to the market acceptability of the fruits of the new cultivars.

Selected local researchers, extension agents and national researchers were sponsored to participate in relevant symposia, trainings and for a, both local and international, to ensure that they are kept abreast with current trends and scenarios, and related scientific knowledge and technologies. Some of them participated in scientific symposia that targeted Fusarium wilt disease management.

Short-term trainings and study visits in laboratories and fields of advanced institutions where Foc TR4 has been well studied such as The Taiwan Banana Research Institute, and QDPI in Australia, were also carried out.

To date, more than 1,000 hectares have been replanted. Meanwhile, the Philippine government has launched a PhP 100 million (US$2.02 million) plus program to help small growers to rehabilitate affected farms and sustain livelihoods by an integrated approach around the use of GCTCV 218 and 219. Additionally, the planting of these varieties with tissue culture seedlings in commercial scale provides an opportunity for recurrent selection for more improved phenotypes.

Project 1. Mitigating Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 Through a Farmer-Participatory Approach of Developing Disease Management Strategies.

Rationale

The recent Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, – (Foc)) disease outbreak in Cavendish plantations in the Philippines is a serious threat to the sustainability of the multi- million dollar (PhP 720 million/US$ 14.6 million per annum) Cavendish-based export industry and also to the survival of important local cultivars grown by small-scale farmers. Currently, about 80,000 hectares are planted to Cavendish for the export market (PBGEA 2011). It is very important to note that almost 50% of this is grown by small-scale independent growers. These growers lack the infrastructure and technical capabilities of the big growers associated with multi-national companies. Recent surveys show many small-scale growers' farms have been severely affected by Foc TR4 epidemics, so severe that some farms were already abandoned and planted to other lower-income crops such as corn (Figures 1 and 2).

The problem is worldwide. Developing resistant cultivars has been a long-term approach towards a sustainable management of Foc TR4. However, breeding programs have failed to produce Cavendish varieties of equal or higher productivity combined with disease-resistance and with quality that satisfies the discriminating standards of the global market. Some cultivars released by the breeding program of the Fundacion Hondurena de Investigacion Agricola (FHIA) are high-yielding and resistant to Fusarium wilt, but remain commercially unacceptable for the export market.

The Taiwan Banana Research Institute (TBRI) has achieved some successes in the selection and use of Fusarium wilt-resistant somaclonal variants of Cavendish (i.e., GCTCVs) as part of the integrated approach to sustain the banana export industry in that country. A number of these resistant cultivars were shared with Bioversity’s International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre (ITC)1 for inclusion in the International Musa Testing Programme (IMTP)2. Subsequently, these varieties were distributed through Bioversity International’s National Repository Multiplication and Dissemination Centre (NRMDC) program in Asia for evaluation and adoption. In the Philippines, the DA-BAR signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Bioversity in 2002 for the establishment of NRMDCs at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Davao City and the Institute of Plant Breeding at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

1 Musa germplasm genebank hosted by KULeuven, Belgium 2 Global Musa germplasm evaluation trials programme coordinated by Bioversity International 7

Figure 1. Aerial view of a small scale farm severely affected by Foc TR4. Note the general incidence of Foc TR 4 infected plants (with yellow leaves)

Figure 2. Aerial view of banana farm abandoned because of TR4, consequently, planted to corn. Note the old structure of banana plantation such as drainage

Preliminary field trials conducted by Bioversity and the Lapanday Fruits Corp.3 in a field severely infested with Foc TR4 showed very promising results. Two of the somaclonal varieties tested showed high levels of resistance to TR4; these were GCTCV 219 and GCTCV 218 (Molina et al, 2011). The fruits were also evaluated for qualities comparable with the export Cavendish variety. Results proved that the fruits could be accepted by the market and these were of equal or higher quality than fruits from existing commercial varieties.

While the two varieties have some relatively inferior traits compared with the commercial varieties, with longer maturity periods and smaller bunch sizes, they are highly resistant to Foc TR4 and acceptable in the export market. Thus, they provide a viable alternative for small-scale growers who would otherwise have no option but to abandon their farms due to Foc TR4 epidemics. There is now an opportunity to plant these varieties in farms that are severely affected by Foc TR4, and to adapt a protocol to further select improved somaclones in the field. Since most of the currently affected farms are those of small Cavendish growers who cannot afford to abandon their farms, the use of resistant GCTCVs offers a promising alternative (Molina, 2012).

This project focuses on working with smallholder Cavendish banana growers who are most vulnerable to the detrimental impacts of Fusarium wilt. Unlike the big banana export companies, such independent farmers do not have the technical capacity, organization and infrastructure to link R&D to their needs to mitigate this disease, as well as sustain losses in the meanwhile. This project would directly benefit small-scale farmers who are now suffering from the brunt of this disease; likewise, the whole banana Cavendish industry will gain from its outputs and outcomes.

Objectives

This project was implemented with two main objectives:

a. To provide smallholder farmers an immediate alternative solution to mitigate the damage from Foc TR4 currently devastating their farms; and

b. To carry out a farmer-participatory selection of improved GCTCV genotype(s) with better yield and agronomic traits, disease resistance, fruit quality and marketability.

3 a private export company of Cavendish bananas based in Davao see http://www.lapanday.com/ 9

Methodology

a. Foc-resistant cultivar that was piloted

Two Cavendish somaclones, GCTCV 219 and 218 were earlier evaluated and found resistant to Foc TR4 in commercial field trials in Davao City in collaboration with the Research Division of Lapanday Food Corp. GCTCV 219 is a field selection, an improvement from GCTCV 119. The original variety was sourced from ITC-Bioversity, which acquired this variety from the Taiwan Banana Research Institute (TBRI) through a material acquisition agreement. GCTCV 219 was chosen for this pilot study because it showed better plant type and fruit-bunch characteristics than GCTCV 119. On the 3rd year of the project, GCTCV 218 planting materials were also distributed to selected farmer-cooperators to evaluate the variety in small-scale banana plantations.

b. Selection of pilot farms

Independent Cavendish growers whose farms had been severely affected by Foc TR4 were chosen as farmer-cooperators for this pilot study. During the first year of this study, 20 farmer-cooperators with high Fusarium wilt incidences in their Cavendish fields were engaged. GCTCV 219 was compared with the traditional variety that the farmers were using (Grand Naine). The list of growers and respective number of seedlings initially provided to them are listed in Annex Table 1.

From the end of the 2nd year to the 3rd year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region XI Crop Protection Center headed by Dr. Susan Razo, on a separate funding from the DA, collaborated with Bioversity under the DA-BAR project, and conducted an expanded evaluation of the GCTCV 219 in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley. The DA-funded project was implemented as the response of the Philippine Government to the expanding disease incidences of Cavendish in Region XI. Annex Table 2 shows the list of additional farmer-cooperators of DA. More farmers were later added as cooperators as the disease spread to other parts of Mindanao.

c. Source of planting materials and field establishment

Foundation stocks of GCTCV 219 were sourced from the Institute of Plant Breeding, UP Los Baños (IPB, UPLB) to reduce the risk that mother plants are virus-infected. These were then mass-produced by a private tissue-culture company in Davao (Lapanday Food Corp). In collaboration with the Regional Crop Protection Center (DA-RCPC) and BPI-Davao, GCTCV seedlings were distributed for planting to identified farmer- collaborators.

GCTCV 219 was planted side by side with Grande Naine (as the control variety) in collaborating Foc TR4-infected farms. Farmer-cooperators applied their usual commercial management practices for Cavendish. The practices of each farmer- cooperator were documented accordingly. It was agreed that responsibilities for fertilizers and other production inputs were to be shouldered by each farmer- cooperator. BPI-Davao and DA-RCPC coordinated and monitored the pilot farms in the region. Some farms with severe Foc TR4 infestation did not have enough capital for farm inputs to maintain the GCTCVs in their field; thus, some collaborating farms did not continue growing the varieties.

d. Data collected

Agronomic data and disease incidence were collected from the identified farms from the plant crop, 1st ratoon up to the 2nd ratoon of the planted GCTCVs. The following data were taken:

Disease incidence - field data on disease incidence (Fusarium wilt) for both GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine were recorded every week by the farmer- cooperator. Participating growers were trained on standard field diagnosis of Fusarium wilt symptoms. Identified infected plants were verified by checking on the pseudostem for vascular discoloration.

Agronomic traits – The following agronomic traits were recorded: a) days from planting to flowering; b) days from bagging to harvest; and c) plant height.

Yield and fruit characteristics - a) bunch weight; b) number and weight of hands; number of fingers per hand; c) box-stem ratio.

Fruit quality/characteristics – a) ripening characteristics; b) pulp physical characteristics; c) sensory evaluation; d) chemical characteristics (brix and acidity); e) greenlife.

Recurrent selection of improved GCTCV 219 lines

Another important component of the project is the selection of improved somaclones from the GCTCV 219 plants that were planted in each of the farms based on their favorable agronomic traits. Improved plant height (shorter), fewer days to shooting and better bunch characteristics will be the main selection parameters for this study. Selected lines will be multiplied and verified for their resistance to Foc TR4 in disease nurseries, and planted in the field to confirm their improved agronomic traits. The farmers are very much involved in selecting desired plants in the field.

A total of 30 somaclones were selected initially from the farms of Puyod, Mauro and SFARBEMCO based on their days to shooting, bunch weights, plant height, and fruit characteristics. The plant number of each selected plant was recorded and was initially planned to be used as the unique somaclone ID. However, over time, the labels were mixed up, and so the labels where dropped and seedlings of the selections were just distributed to GCTCV 219 farm cooperators.

At the time of writing, seedlings of the somaclone selections were just being planted in the field of farm cooperators. Data that will be generated from the GCTCV 219 selections will be compared with the commercial variety (Grand Naine). And from the selections, 10 best somaclones will again be selected and further be multiplied in vitro for re-planting and re-evaluation in the field. The technical team will consolidate and submit all experimental data to the Project Leader for reporting, analyses and recommendations.

Results and Discussions

a. Farmer-cooperators

A total of 20 farmer-cooperators - all practicing banana/Cavendish monoculture, from Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley were identified and farmers agreed to participate in the study. Farm size ranged from small scale (3 to 25 hectares), medium scale contract growers (30 to 80 hectares) to large scale cooperative farms (100 to more than 500 hectares) around the Davao Region (Figure 3). Common farm practices observed from the collaborating farms were the following: (1) hand weeding and application of herbicides for weed control; (2) use of fungicides for Sigatoka disease management; (3) the use of chemical fertilizers such as urea, potash, ammonium sulfate and other micronutrient sources for zinc, boron and calcium; (4) the use of organic matter such as chicken manure.

Relative to their farm size, the area infested with Foc TR4 from these farms ranged from 0.5 hectares (CFARBEMCO and MDR-Lim Farms) to as much as 14 to 24 hectares (GEA Farm & Mejos Farm). The infested areas were generally flat, with some farm areas hilly; mostly were rainfed with clay loam soil and all had been monoculture Cavendish banana plantations for the last 8 years. Just like all the other banana plantations in the province, the farms commonly experienced the following banana diseases and were managed well using good production practices such as the use of tissue culture plants for seedlings, early disease detection and rogueing/burning of diseased plants using rice hull, application of commercial fungicides: Bacterial Wilt (Moko) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, Black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis), Banana bunchy top virus, and bract mosaic virus. However for Foc TR4, none of these practices were effective in managing the spread of the disease in their farms.

Figure 3. Batches of seedlings of GCTCV 219 were distributed to farmer cooperators around Davao City and towns of Davao del Norte Province

The following practices were applied by the cooperating farms to mitigate the spread and manage Foc TR4 in the farms, but none was proven effective: (1) chopping of infected plant parts and burning of 20-40 bags of rice hull on the infected mats; (2) disinfecting farm hand tools; (3) change of variety from Grande Naine to Tall Williams to Lakatan; (4) crop rotation with corn and other vegetables; (5) strict implementation of bleach footbaths at the entrance and exit of the infested farm area; (6) use of formalin, drenching the soil around the infected plant; and (7) the use of Trichoderma as an ingredient of the organic fertilizers.

Annex Table 1 provides the summarized list of pilot farms with necessary information on the number of seedlings of GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine provided to the farmers and the date when these were planted. An initial survey was conducted among the farmer-cooperators to gather baseline information on the farm characteristics, farm practices, farm inputs and the training needs of the farmers. Survey results, especially those from the farm management/inputs part, were verified with the farmer- cooperators to make sure the data collected were correct. After the survey was completed, an over-all discussion of the possible relationships and interactions between the farm management practices, farm inputs, ground cover and soil type and the Fusarium wilt incidence in each of the farms were made.

An additional 20 farmer-cooperators highly affected by Foc TR4 were identified by the DA XI Regional Crop Protection Center (DA - RCPC) from Davao del Norte municipalities and Compostela Valley (Table 2). Distribution of planting materials for the additional cooperators was facilitated by the DA-RCPC XI. Field establishment and monitoring was also implemented by the partner institution as part of the government’s effort to contain the infestation and manage Foc TR4 in the Davao region.

Farmer-cooperators who performed well in managing the initial GCTCV 219 varieties were also given additional seedlings of GCTCV 218 for further evaluation on farmers’ fields towards the end of the project year. The agronomic data and disease resistance of the variety were documented.

The GCTCV 218 variety was later distributed to farmer collaborators due to unavailability of planting materials for distribution (Table 3).

b. Field Establishment of GCTCV 219

Between October 2012 and July 2013, a total of 33,400 GCTCV 219 and 2,500 Grande Naine seedlings (Table 1) were distributed and planted in 21 collaborating farms around Davao province and ComVal province. More seedlings of GCTCV 219 were given to collaborating farms with larger farm areas infected with Foc TR4. These independent farms signified their participation in the project by agreeing/committing 14

to manage the farms planted with GCTCV 219 according to their commercial management protocol for Cavendish bananas. No financial support was provided to collaborating farmers for field inputs (fertilizer, pesticides) and field management until harvesting of these varieties.

Table 1. Additional farmer cooperators planting GCTCV 218 for further agronomic and disease resistant evaluation

Farmer Cooperator Location GCTCV 218 Date Planted

1. Dicky Puyod Farm Lasang, Davao City 1,000 May 2016 2. Jonas Mauro Farm Calinan, Davao City 1500 May 2016 3. Cocoy Aguiluz Sto Tomas, Davao Del Norte 1000 May 2016 4. CFARBEMCO Carmen, Davao Del Norte 500 May 2016 5. Gilton Almocera Compostela Valley 500 May 2016 6. Louie Donal Toril, Davao City 500 May 2016 7. Diosdado Castil Davao Del Norte 500 May 2016

Basic banana production management practices were applied by the banana growers such as the application of chicken manure or vermicast at planting as basal fertilizer, monthly application of chemical fertilizers (Urea, Ammonium Sulfate, & Potash), once- a-year application of zinc, calcium, boron. For other disease management practices -- for sigatoka management, aerial and ground sprayings of fungicide were applied; moko incidences were regularly monitored and moko-infected plants were chopped and the matt was burned with rice hulls; bunchy top-infected plants were regularly eliminated. Irrigation for the areas planted with GCTCV 219 was rainfed only. This resulted in some delays in the plantings in some of the farms because of drought.

The field experiment lay out was alternating rows of GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine planted on Foc infested fields to demonstrate and compare the resistance/susceptibility of the variety to Foc TR4. Figure 4 illustrates the field lay out from different field demo sites of the project.

Farmer-cooperators were from the districts of Davao City (Toril, Calinan and Tugbok), municipalities of Davao del Norte (Panabo, Tagum, Asuncion, Sto Tomas, Carmen, New Corella), Davao del Sur (Sta. Cruz and Kiblawan) and Compostela Valley Province (Mabini).

GCTCV 219 at Musahamat, Calinan

GCTCV 219 at TVPI Farm, Mabini

Figure 4a. Field experiment set up for GCTCV 219 at Calinan District, Davao City and Mabini, Compostela Province.

GCTCV Grande 219 Naine

GCTCV Grande GCTCV 219 Naine 219

Figure 4b. Field experiment set up: Alternating rows of GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine for the evaluation of field resistance/ susceptibility to Fusarium Wilt TR4

Figure 5 shows a map locating the several field experiments that were established. Field plantings of GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine in each of the collaborating farms were monitored and documented in collaboration with the researchers of BPI-Davao City and DA XI-RCPC.

Figure 5. Location map of the established field experiments for the evaluation GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine

In February 2013, the Davao Region was devastated by typhoon ‘Bopha’. The two collaborating farms located at Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte were flooded. Lapiz Farm planted with GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine was severely flooded, and the experimental plants (4-months old) that were planted in October 2012 were completely submerged. Planting during the week of the typhoon in Fabian Farm was postponed and re-scheduled the following week due to flooding (Figure 6). It was noted that experimental plants of GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine planted in Lapiz Farm survived despite the flooding. Figure 6 showing the infected Cavendish plants submerged in flood water also is evidence of how Foc spread throughout the province of Davao del Norte and neighboring towns.

Figure 6. (A) Flooded Fusarium wilt infested farm at 4 months after planting GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine (Lapiz Farm); (B) completely submerged Fabian Farm; both farms located at Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.

Fusarium wilt incidence

Tables 2 and 3 show the disease incidence observed from the plant crop to the 2nd ratoon crop on Grande Naine and GCTCV 219 from the 40 collaborating farms all over the Davao region. Fusarium wilt incidence on the susceptible commercial variety Grande Naine was almost 100% for most farms at the plant crop. Grande Naine disease incidence averaged approximately 80% with range of 6 to 100% incidence. The collaborating farms discontinued monitoring of the disease incidence for the 1st ratoon crop on Grande Naine because eventually 100% of the Grande Naine test plants succumbed to Foc (Figures 7, 8 and 9).

The GCTCV 219 variety was also infected with Fusarium wilt in farmers’ fields. However, disease incidence was relatively lower than the commercial variety Grand Naine. Based on the field experiments conducted on 40 farms, less than 1% Fusarium wilt incidence was observed with GCTCV 219 on plant crop. Earliest symptom of Fusarium wilt on GCTCV 219 was observed at 4 weeks after planting in Compostela Valley (Almocera Farm) and Davao del Sur (Mejos Farm). Highest disease incidence for GCTCV 219 was observed in Mejos Farm (4%). Percent Foc incidence for GCTCV 219 ranged from 0 to 4% at the plant crop.

The ratoon crop of GCTCV 219 showed stability in resistance to the disease, an average of only 0.02% Fusarium wilt incidence was observed on only 4 farms and an average of 0.01 % at the second ratoon. This means that the resistance of GCTCV was stable from the plant crop to the ratoon crop. For the Grand Naine, no data for the ratoon crop was recorded because all test plants were already infected at plant crop stage.

Farmer-cooperators were encouraged to plant GCTCV 219 primarily because of its resistance to the disease. The area that used to be abandoned because almost all the Grande Naine plants growing in the area were infected with Fusarium wilt, now became productive with GCTCV 219 despite the presence of the disease. Harvest was made possible in their disease-infested areas because of the resistant variety. For contract growers under major commercial banana companies in the Davao Region, having a harvest per area is important as they are contractually required to supply a specific number of boxes of bananas per week.

c. Agronomic Traits Evaluation of GCTCV 219

Other than the disease incidence data for the GCTCV 219 somaclones, superior agronomic traits of the individual plants were also recorded. Plants with the shortest days to shooting were tagged and pre-selected for further evaluation based on bunch weight, pseudostem length, average bunch weight, average number of hands per bunch and box-stem ratio. 20

Table 2. Observed Foc TR4 incidence on pilot farms planted with GCTCV 219 and Grand Naine

Fusarium wilt incidence (%) Total no. seedlings planted st Farmer Cooperator Date Planted Plant Crop 1 Ratoon 2nd Ratoon Grande GCTCV 219 Grande Naine GCTCV 219 GCTCV 219 GCTCV 219 Naine 1 Phil. Fresh Fruits Oct. 4, 2012 3800 200 1.42 100 0.03 0 2 LMH Agri. Dev't. Corp Oct. 23-24, 2012 2000 200 0.85 45 0 0 3 Bancud Farm Oct. 23-24, 2012 500 100 2 97 0 0 4 Lapiz Farm Oct. 23-24, 2012 1800 200 0 100 0 0 5 GEA Farm Dec. 13, 2012 3500 200 0.34 84.5 0 0 6 Tindoc Farm Dec. 13, 2012 1500 200 1.8 99 0.13 0 7 CFARBEMCO Farm Dec. 18, 2012 700 200 0 20.5 0 0 8 SFARBEMCO Farm Jan. 9-10, 2013 700 300 2.71 100 0 0 9 GADI Farm Dec. 19, 2012 300 100 0.33 100 0 0 10 TVPI Farm Dec. 19, 2012 1100 200 0.09 100 0 0 11 Lupiba Farm Jan. 14-15, 2013 1500 200 0.73 100 0 0 12 Baer Farm Feb. 16, 2013 500 0 0.6 - 0 0 13 Mauro Farm Feb. 21, 2013 2000 0 0.6 100 0.05 0.25 14 Fabian Farm March 1, 2013 2000 0 0 - 0 0 15 Mejos Farm March 21, 2013 1500 0 4.87 - 0 0 16 Donal Farm March 8, 2013 500 0 0.6 - 0 0 17 Rotersos Farm March 04, 2013 500 0 0.3 - 0 0 18 Matuguiña Farm April 23, 2013 1700 0 1.53 - 0.24 0 19 Musahamat Farm August 5, 2013 1800 200 0.11 11 0 0 20 JJMA Corp. July 22, 2013 1000 0 - 0 0 AVERAGE 0.99 81.3 0.02 0.01 Note: (-) no Grande Naine was planted in the area 21

Table 3. Observed Foc TR4 incidence on pilot farms planted with GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine (DA Expansion) Disease Incidence (%) Farmer Cooperators Date Planted Plant Crop BBTV Moko GCTCV219 GN GCTCV219 GN GCTCV219 GN Davao del Norte 1. Remedios Campomanes June 2014 0 18 0 0 0 0 2. Edilberto Martinez May 2014 0 15 20 5 0 0 3. Naliza Porza Aug 2015 0 - 0 - 0 0 4. Aguiluz Melfar June 2014 0 - 0 - 0 0 5. Leonida Ponteras June 2014 0 18 0 0 0 0 6. Margarito Evangelio June 2014 0 - 0 - 0 0 7. Nelson Chua June 2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 8. Romeo Fabriquiz June 2014 0 - 0 - 0 0 ComVal Province 1. Ceferino C. Mante Aug 2014 0 - 3 - 0 0 2. Kahaziel S. Mante Aug 2014 0 - 1 - 0 0

3. Gilton Almocera July 2014 0 80 2 25 0 0 4. Hermino M. Calalas July 2014 0 - 3 - 0 0 5. Davies Ycot Aug 2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 6. Dante Ycot Aug 2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 7. Darius Ycot Aug 2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 8. Dean Ycot Aug 2014 0 0 0 0 0 0 9. Felipe Dalago Jr. Oct 2014 0 - 0 - 0 0 10. Gimma Cagalitan July 2014 0 6 0 0 0 0 11. Rogelio Algones July 2014 0 10 20 2 0 0 12. Rosale Secuya Oct 2014 0 - 0 - 0 0 AVERAGE 0 13 1.55 3 0 0 (-) no Grande Naine was planted alongside the GCTCV 22

Gran Naine GCTCV 219

Figure 7. Observed Foc TR4 incidence in Philippine Fresh Fruit farm planted with GCTCV 219 and Grande Naine

Figure 8. Plant stand of GCTCV 219 versus Grande Naine at the field experimental area of Mauro Farms

GCTCV 219

Grand GCTCV Naine 219

Figure 9. Plant stand of GCTCV 219 on Foc infested field of TVPI at Mabini, ComVal Province versus the vacant row of Grande Naine

Tables 4 and 5 show the average agronomic data collected from the plant crop and the 1st ratoon crop for some GCTCV 219 plants. Earliest shooting of GCTCV 219 on the average was observed at ~260 days after planting at Mauro Farm, located at Calinan, Davao City.

The longest number of days to shooting was at 445 days, observed at Donal Farm at Toril, Davao City. Donal Farm is located at 700m above sea level. The longer days to maturity of the plant may be attributed to the high elevation. Thus, it is possible that the GCTCV 219 clones are not suitable for high elevations (~700masl). Further study may be conducted to confirm the genotype-by-environment interaction.

Average pseudostem height of the plant crop was observed at 275 cm and 254 cm for the 1st ratoon, and 282 cm for the 2nd ratoon. It was also observed by the farmers that the followers showed floating characteristics, the corms of the followers growing above ground after the plant crop (Figure 10). This makes the plant unstable in strong winds and absorption of nutrients from the soil may also be adversely affected.

GCTCV 219 plants based on the experiments conducted were observed to have an average bunch weight of ~17kg, ranging from 8kg for not well-managed farms to 20kg from banana farms with good management practices – meaning with regular application of inputs and good drainage. Box stem ratio (BSR) was 0.9 for the plant crop, 1.0 for the 1st ratoon crop and ~1.0 on the 2nd ratoon crop. Highest BSR at the plant crop was observed at CFARBEMCO with 1.6. At 1st ratoon, the highest BSR was 1.3 at Phil Fresh Fruits and only 1.1 BSR for the 2nd ratoon.

Only four farms (CFARBEMCO, Mauro, Phil Fresh Fruits, Rotersos Farm) continued maintaining and gathering yield data for the GCTCV 219 variety until the 2nd ratoon crop. The primary reason for their discontinued maintenance of the variety in their fields is not because of high Fusarium wilt disease incidence but because of the poor agronomic traits of the variety compared to Grand Naine. Table 6 shows the agronomic data of Grande Naine from selected collaborating farmers compared with the agronomic data of GCTCV 219 from farmers’ fields (Figures 11 and 12).

From GCTCV 219 low box-stem ratio (BSR) values and low bunch weights were obtained compared to the Grande Naine BSR in the same area when it was not yet infested with Foc TR4. However, positive response was still received with the remaining GCTCV 219 growers because, despite the disease infestation, there was a banana harvest that should have been zero if they planted Grand Naine.

For the additional farm cooperators monitored in collaboration with DA-RCPC Region XI, only the plant crop agronomic data was collected. Farmers were discouraged to

Table 4. Agronomic Data collected from GCTCV 219 plants in the different experimental areas in the Davao region.

Days Funt'l leaves @ shooting Pseudostem Height (cm) Bunch Wt (kg) No. of hand Box stem ration Farmer Collaborators Shooting 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 2nd Gen ratoon ratoon Gen ratoon ratoon Gen ratoon ratoon Gen ratoon ratoon Gen ratoon ratoon 1. Phil. Frsh Fruits 296 11 11 11 262.77 251.21 256.33 20.78 19.97 19.45 8 8 8 1 1.3 1.18 Corp. Farm 2. LMH Agri. Dev't. 407 8 0 244.8 8.92 5 Corp. Farm 4. Bancud Farm 305 12 0 283 19 6 0.66

6. GEA Farm 283 10 0 310.22 19.22 7 0.9

7. Tindoc Farm 298 8 7 0 250.4 243.08 14.78 11.29 5 5 0.81 0.75

8. CFARBEMCO 326 10 10 9 284 209.6 278.76 17.31 19.8 17.64 6 7 6 1.65 1.05 Farm 9. SFARBEMCO 331 11 0 256 17.37 7 0.8 Farm 11. TVPI Farm 291 10 10 0 265 279.05 18.91 16.37 7 6 0.86 0.9

12. Lupiba Farm 284 12 0 307.44 16.98 7 0.93

14. Mauro Farm 264 11 11 11 298.44 291.05 300.22 20.24 20.29 17.7 5 8 7 1.15 1.19 1.07

17. Donal Farm 445 8 0 237.33 13.5 5 0.6

18. Rotersos Farm 401 9 10 301.86 292.95 13.15 12.69 5 5 0.59 0.55

Average 327 10 10 10 275.11 254.80 282.07 16.68 17.54 16.87 6 7 7 0.92 1.04 0.96

Table 5. Observed agronomic traits of GCTCV 219 on DA- RCPC Region XI pilot farms at Davao del Norte and ComVal Province Pseudoste Functiona Ave. Plant Ht at Box Date of Days to m Girth at l Leaves at Hands/ bunch Shooting Stem Planting Shooting Shooting Harvest bunch weight (cm) Ratio (cm) (kg) Davao del Norte 1. Remedios Campomanes June 2014 225 2. Edilberto Martinez May 2014 240 4 7 17 0.8 3. Naliza Porza Aug 2015 4. Aguiluz Melfar June 2014 225 245 78 4 8 22.5 1.1 5. Leonida Ponteras June 2014 225 252 74 4 7 19 1 6. Margarito Evangelio June 2014 240 3.8 7 17.8 0.9 7. Nelson Chua June 2014 8. Romeo Fabriquiz June 2014 ComVal Province 1. Ceferino C. Mante Aug 2014 2. Kahaziel S. Mante Aug 2014 3. Gilton Almocera July 2014 280 48 6.5 23.5 1.1 4. Hermino M. Calalas July 2014 285 48 6 19.30 1.2 5. Davies Ycot Farms Aug 2014 300 7 8 1.1 6. Felipe Dalago Jr. Oct 2014 255 45.2 6.5 18.65 0.85 7. Gimma Cagalitan July 2014 275 50.8 7 22 1.01 8. Rogelio Algones July 2014 9. Rosale Secuya Oct 2014 AVERAGE 265 57.4 5.4 7.4 20 1

Table 6. Agronomic Data of Grand Naine versus GCTCV 219 plants in the different experimental areas in the Davao region. Functional leaves Pseudostem Ht. No. of hands/ Bunch Wt (kg) box/ stem ratio at shooting (cm) bunch TSS Collaborations Grand GCTCV GCTCV GCTCV GCTCV GCTCV GN GN GN GN GN Naine 219 219 219 219 219 Tindoc Farm 12 8 239 250 22 13 10 5 1.2 0.78 18

Phil. Frsh Fruits Corp. 10 11 241 257 21 20 9 8 1.3 1.16 19 Farm TVPI Farm 10 7 251 272 18 18 11 7 1.2 0.88

Bancud Farm 10 12 254 283 17 19 9 6 1.2 0.66

Average 10.5 9.5 246.25 265.5 19.5 17.5 9.75 6.5 1.225 0.87 18.5

28 continue by El Nino effects that occurred in Davao del Norte and ComVal Province from December until June 2015. Severe drought was experienced during these months and so the banana production during this time was severely affected. In addition to the decline of harvest after the El Nino months, the GCTCV 219 plants in their farms also did not give encouraging bunch/hand characteristics as compared to the popular variety Grand Naine.

Figure 10. GCTCV 219 primary plants with floating followers

Mauro Farms, Calinan, Davao City

Ponteras Farm, Dujali, Davao del Norte

Figure 11. Plant stand of GCTCV 219 on farmers’ Fields in Davao Provinces

Figure 12. Harvested bunches of GCTCV 219 evaluated for bunch/fruit characteristics from different farm collaborators in Davao del Norte

d. Postharvest fruit evaluation of GCTCV 219

Among the farm collaborators, only the Philippine Fresh Fruits Farm, TVPI and Mauro Farms reached the early harvesting period for the GCTCV 219 variety. First caliper readings were taken at 10 weeks after bagging, 2nd caliper readings at 11 weeks after bagging, and sweep at 12 weeks post-bagging. Fruit characteristics such as hand formation, hand class, fruit ripening characteristics and fruit pulp sweetness were recorded for the selected mats.

Early results showed that the fruit appearance of GCTCV 219 was comparable with the fruit of Grande Naine when ripened, gassed at 15°C for 5 days (Figures 13 and 14). The fruits of GCTCV 219 were processed just like the Grande Naine fruits (i.e., de-handing, clustering and packaging). Based on preliminary observations, GCTCV 219 displayed non-uniform hand formation. Subsequently, one of the initial market strategies of Phil Fresh Fruits Farm was to develop a market for single fingers of the variety. This would then remove the disadvantage of GCTCV 219’s non-uniform hands.

Fruits from farms were not evaluated based on total soluble solids (TSS) of the fruit pulp. While the TSS data is not available, it was noted through a taste test that the fruits of GCTCV 219 were sweeter than the Grande Naine based on earlier collaborative studies by Lapanday and Bioversity International. For this reason, it is very possible to develop a special market through single finger (Samurai) and clusters of 4-5 fingers (Army pack).

Based on preliminary observations of Phil Fresh Fruits Farm, GCTCV 219 had low bunch weights, fewer hands per bunch and with non-uniform hand formation; thus one of the initial market strategy of the company was to develop a market for cluster packs of 4-5 fingers of the variety (Figure 15). This modification then removed the disadvantage of GCTCV 219’s non-uniform hands. The company has now established the ripening protocols, packaging and market for GCTCV 219 bananas. The fruits are sold under the ‘Miyabi’ brand in Japan as premium bananas. These are sweeter bananas sold in packs of 4-5 fingers. Figure 16 shows the stack of GCTCV 219 bananas waiting for the refrigerated container van for export.

Figure 13. Comparing the harvested hands of GCTCV 219 and Grand Naine

FigFigure 14. Appearance of ripened hands of GCTCV 219 comparable with Grand Naine

Figure 15. Harvested GCTCV 219 fresh fruits packed for export to Japan in clusters of 4-5 fingers with Miyabi brand from the Phil Fresh Fruits farm

Figure 16. GCTCV 219 bananas sold as premium cavendish banana in Japan with brand name Miyabi

During the harvests of GCTCV 219, an important observation was the occurrence of finger peel splitting of ripened fruits (Figure 17), especially on 11 and 12 week-old bunches. This indicated a more advanced physiological maturity of GCTCV 219 compared to Grande Naine at 10 weeks after bagging. As part of the protocol development for postharvest handling of this variety, harvest protocols were therefore modified by reducing the hanging weeks of the bunch to 9 weeks instead of the 10-week standard for Grand Naine. A participatory approach with growers allowed us to make adjustments to the protocol as we proceeded with the study.

Figure 17. Ripe fruits of GCTCV 219 with peel splitting.

f. Recurrent selection of improved GCTCV 219 lines

Based on the criteria mentioned earlier, collaborating farmers of the following farms: Phil Fresh Fruits Corp, VP Mauro & Sons Farm, Bancud Farm, SFARBEMCO, CFARBEMCO, TVPI and GEA Farm initially tagged and selected somaclones from their Fusarium wilt-infested fields. These selected clones of GCTCV 219 were collected from Bancud Farm and are now at the Bureau of Plant Industry, Davao City for in vitro multiplication. Other tagged clonal selections were later scheduled for collection from farmers’ fields in January and February 2015 and were sent to a collaborating in-vitro laboratory for mass propagation in Tagum City. The selections made were based on the following agronomic traits: (1) fewer days to shooting, (2) shorter plant height, (3) bigger bunch weights and higher box-stem ratio, and (4) acceptable hand formation of the clones in each of the farms. Table 7 summarizes preliminary data of selected clones versus general population on the parameters mentioned above. Clearly, the selected clones had improved data on the above parameters.

The propagated seedlings of the selected clones of GCTCV 219 were again distributed to farmers who were willing to test the clone selections in their Foc TR4-infested banana farms. The selections were planted in the infested farms of (1) Mauro Farm at Calinan, Davao City, (2) Tagalog Farm at Asuncion, Davao del Norte and (3) MDR-Lim

Farm at Tagum, Davao del Norte. The GCTCV 219 selections are now at their vegetative stage, expecting to shoot by the 1st quarter of 2017 (Figure 18).

The selections planted in the above-mentioned collaborating farms will be evaluated (plant crop and ratoon crop) for their agronomic traits (plant height, days to shooting) and yield components (bunch weight, box-stem ratio, number of hands and hand formation). The postharvest qualities of the selected somaclones will also be evaluated according to the export standards for the Cavendish bananas. Consistent outstanding somaclones (based on agronomic traits and yield components) from these initially selected somaclones will then be re-selected and mass produced as farmers’ Fusarium wilt-resistant variety.

Table 7. Agronomic data of selected clones from 5 best managed farmers’ field for in vitro multiplication Farmer Days to Shooting Pseudostem Height (cm) Bunch Weight (kg) Collaborators GCTCV 219 Selected GCTCV 219 GCTCV 219 Selected Over all Average Over all Selected Over all Average Average Average Average Average Mauro Farm 264 236 307.4 275.7 21.6 25 Phil Fresh fruits 295 260 262.8 246.9 20.8 27.7 CFARBEMCO 325 237 285 199 18 26 TVPI 291 264 264 239 19 23 GEA 262 243 302 256 19 24

Average 293.3 251.0 278.5 235.2 19.2 25.2

Figure 18. Field evaluation site for selected clones of GCTCV 219 at Calinan, Davao City

38 g. Commercial Banana Grower’s preference for GCTCV 218

Aside from the resistant variety GCTCV 219, another resistant somaclone, GCTCV 218 was later adapted by commercial growers as another promising alternative for the popular susceptible Grande Naine Cavendish banana. The variety was initially field- tested in collaboration with the Lapanday Food Corp at Callawa, Davao City. Based on their field evaluation, the following disease incidence and agronomic data were obtained (Tables 10 and 11).

Table 8. Fusarium wilt incidence (%) of introduced banana varieties planted in Callawa, Davao, Philippines (July 2011-2013) Date of Number of Variety 54 weeks 77 weeks 100 weeks Planting Exptl Plants GCTCV 105 12/20/2011 100 3 8 8 GCTCV 218 12/20/2011 100 6 6 6 GCTCV 219 07/27/2011 100 1 1 1 GCTCV 119 07/27/2011 100 0 0 0 Gran Naine 07/27/2011 100 64 79 80

Comparison of GCTCVs vs Grande Naine Foc infection levels 100 90 80 Gran Naine 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 GCTCVs 0 54 weeks 77 weeks 100 weeks

Table 9. Agronomic traits of GCTCV varieties compared to Grande Naine under field conditions in Callawa, Davao City, Philippines (Primary Crop)

Days to Plant Bunch Malformed Variety Hand Class Shooting Height (cm) Weight (kg) hands GCTCV 105 249.4a 287.7b 22.4a 7.5b 1.18ab GCTCV 218 259.0ab 285.2b 27.6c 8.4c 1.53b GCTCV 219 286.9bc 287.3b 23.7ab 7.13a 0.93ab GCTCV 119 289.8bc 287.6b 24.6b 7.3ab 1.07ab Gran Naine 238.6a 231.3a 24.52b 7.3ab 1.31ab

GCTCV 119 Gran Naine

Figure 19. Initial field evaluation trials on several somaclone variants in collaboration with Lapanday Food Corporation

GCTCV 219

GCTCV 218

Figure 20. Standing plants of GCTCV 219 and GCTCV 218 at the Lapanday Experiment Station

Based on the field evaluations conducted early on with Lapanday, the somaclone variants (all GCTCVs) were all highly resistant to Foc TR4 (Table 10). Good agronomic traits similar to those of Grande Naine were shown by GCTCV 218 and GCTCV 219. Cavendish banana growers with farms infested with Foc TR4 preferred to plant GCTCV 218 rather than GCTCV 219 after the above evaluation was finalized in 2015. The GCTCV 218 was favored over the highly resistant GCTCV 219 because of its high bunch weights compared to those of GCTCV 219 (Table 11).

The two varieties, GCTCV 219 and GCTCV 218 were later evaluated on a commercial scale against Grande Naine for Foc TR4 field resistance in collaboration with commercial banana plantations Dole Philippines, Tagum Development Cooperative (TADECO), Lapanday Food Corp (LFC) and the project independent banana growers (Table 8). The observed limitations of the varieties were as follows: GCTCV 218 somaclone has a certain degree of susceptibility to Foc TR4 compared to the highly resistant GCTCV 219 (Table 12). However, while GCTCV 219 is highly resistant, there is a high percentage of hand malformation; its corms are floaters; the bunch has longer hanging days and has low BS ratio compared to Grande Naine (Figure 21).

Table 10. Percent Fusarium wilt (Foc TR4) incidences from the resistant somaclones and Grande Naine observed from selected commercial plantings* in Davao City Variety Fusarium Wilt incidence (%)**

Grande Naine >50

GCTCV 218 2 - 10

GCTCV 219 0.3 - 2 *Lapanday Food Corporation, TADECO, Dole and Collaborating Independent Growers ** based on an initial survey conducted in March 2016

Figure 21. GCTCV 219 fruit bunch with malformed hands and observed corm

floaters

In an initial survey conducted among the remaining farmer collaborators of the project, and some selected commercial companies that planted the somaclones at a commercial level, they preferred GCTCV 218 as a legitimate option to mitigate Foc TR4 rather than using GCTCV 219 for the following reasons: (1) GCTCV 218 was comparable to the agronomic traits of Grand Naine; the somaclone has high BS ratio that is close to the BS ratio of the commercial variety Grand Naine. (2) GCTCV 218 also has shorter weeks to shooting and relatively similar hanging weeks with Grand Naine. In contrast, with GCTCV 219, despite its high resistance to Foc TR4, the somaclone has low box- stem ratio of only 1.3 or even less, and it has longer weeks to shooting (Table 13).

Nonetheless, it is important to note that despite the GCTCV 219 somaclone variant having hand malformations and longer weeks to shooting, the variety was known to have higher total soluble solids (TSS), which makes the fruit sweeter than the regular Cavendish. Additionally, some growers observed that the variety has relative resistance to sigatoka. Also, some independent banana growers still wanted to plant the variety

44 because of its resistance to Fusarium wilt. Most respondents of the survey were contracted to companies like Dole, Unifrutti, Sumifru and Good Farmers and these companies still bought their GCTCV 219 harvest at the same price as ordinary Grand Naine. The GCTCVs were shipped to Japan, China and Middle East.

Overall, the independent growers prefer the variety GCTCV 218 for its good agronomic traits; the fruits are highly marketable and can sustain the banana business, while GCTCV 219 is highly favored for its resistance against Foc TR4.

Table 11. Agronomic performance of GCTCV 218 and GCTCV 219 against Grande Naine in selected commercial plantings* based on Primary Crop average

Selected Agronomic Traits GCTCV 218 GCTCV 219 Grande Naine

Box Stem Ratio** 1.8 1.3 1.7

Weeks to Shooting 24 - 27 28 - 40 20 - 22

Hanging Weeks 10 - 13 10-11 9 - 13

*Lapanday Food Corporation, TADECO, Dole and Collaborating Independent Growers ** based on an initial survey conducted in March 2016

Figure 22. Field stand of commercial plantings of GCTCV 218 and GCTCV 219 in Davao City, Philippines

46 h. Scaled up commercial plantings of GCTCV 218

While the GCTCV 219 is greatly appreciated by the commercial companies for its high disease resistance and sweeter fruits, thus can be marketed as premium banana, the variety has drawbacks like longer harvest cycle, more straight fingers, thus having fewer marketable hands; plants are taller and have the tendency to float, and so yield declines over time.

On the other hand, further evaluation of the GCTCV 218 at commercial scale showed that while the variety is moderately resistant only, the growers had high interest in the variety because of its big bunches, good fruit formation, relatively shorter harvest cycle than GCTCV 219, and GCTCV 218 has the same postharvest-market requirements as Grande Naine and has less tendency to float, thus no perceived yield decline over time (Figure 23).

A B

Figure 23. Grande Naine (A) and GCTCV 218 (B) bunches, both with 11 hands (Photo: TADECO)

The variety was taken up by the commercial companies and was mass-produced in vitro in their private tissue culture laboratories for commercial plantings to address their losses due to Fusarium wilt infestation in their fields (Figure 24).

Figure 24. Tissue culture nursery of Dole Philippines at Calinan, Davao City for GCTCV 218

Just recently, January 2017, a survey was conducted with 4 major commercial banana companies (Dole – STANFILCO, Tagum Development Corporation, Del Monte Philippines, and Lapanday Food Corporation) and some independent banana growers on the extent of GCTCV 218 adoption in their farms.

Table 12 shows the area to which GCTCV 218 is currently planted from their company managed farms, the average fusarium wilt incidence and the box stem ratio average obtained from the harvests on the primary crop and the ratoon crop.

Table 12. Summary of GCTCV 218 adoption among representative commercial banana companies and independent banana growers

Hectares Planted planted Fusarium Wilt Incidence (%) Box Stem Ratio (BSR) Company to GCTCV 218 (ha) GCTCV 218 Grande Naine GCTCV 218 Grande Naine

TADECO 240 4-10 up to 80 1.94 1.89

Dole 530 2-18 Up to 100 1.40 1.60

Lapanday 250 1-10 Up to 100 1.35 1.50

Del Monte 50 2-8 Up to 100 2.04 1.90

Others* >100 -- Up to 100

*Independent banana growers

Tagum Devt Cooperative

Dole Philippines

Lapanday Food Corporation

Figure 25. Commercial plantings of GCTCV 218, technology taken up by the private banana companies in Davao City

Project 2. Enhancing Capacities of Farmers, Extension Agents and Local Researchers: Towards the Effective Management of Foc for Small-Scale Cavendish Banana Sector

Rationale

The recent Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense or Foc) disease outbreak in Cavendish plantations in the Philippines poses a serious threat to the sustainability of the multi-million dollar (PhP 720 million (US$ 14.6 million) per annum) Cavendish-based export industry, providing 320,000 direct jobs with an annual salary payroll of over US$400 million. Currently, about 70,000 hectares are planted to Cavendish for the export market (PBGEA 2011). It is very important to note that almost 50% of this is grown by small-scale independent growers that are not associated with multi-national companies. These growers lack the infrastructure and technical capabilities of the big growers and, thus, are most deeply affected by the disease.

Recent announcements by the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) and the independent growers’ cooperatives indicated that many farms owned by small- scale growers are now severely affected by Foc TR4. The industry is now seeking help from the government to address this serious threat particularly for the independent small-scale growers. The most logical step to manage this disease as it threatens the whole industry is to contain and prevent spread and carry out eradication programs or other management measures in farms that are already affected. To implement an effective program of containment and prevention requires technical capabilities on early diagnosis and appropriate eradication techniques. Similarly, efforts towards developing other management practices such as the development and use of resistant varieties, biological control and appropriate cultural practices need to be based on improved and sound technical knowledge and capabilities.

Responding to the obvious need to develop management measures against Foc TR4, government agencies are now lending support to R&D activities. One important approach is the evaluation and promotion of Cavendish somaclones that were previously found resistant to Foc TR4 in preliminary field trials conducted by Bioversity International in collaboration with a commercial company. These varieties are now promoted and evaluated for adoption by independent growers. It is also an opportunity to carry out a farmer- participated field selection process to further improve the varieties. To complement these activities capacity-building initiatives have been implemented to equip the stakeholders with the necessary scientific and practical knowledge and skills in carrying out this participatory research. These also provide participating growers, and even non-participating growers, with practical skills and capacities on understanding and using the tools and techniques of disease mitigation.

Objectives This project targeted to achieve two main objectives, namely:

a. To develop and implement various capacity-building methodologies that would enhance capabilities on participatory varietal selection, disease management and appropriate eradication techniques; and b. To enhance the technical capacities of local researchers in understanding and carrying out further research in the management of Foc TR4.

Methodology Capacity-building on disease management tactics and farmer-participatory variety selection process

This project provided an opportunity for capacity-building of farmer-cooperators in integrated disease management. Researchers and extension agents from Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Regional Integrated Agriculture Research Centers (RIARCs) and Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), with backstopping from Bioversity International, implemented capacity-building activities such as trainings on: scouting and early detection and diagnosis of infected plants; disease eradication techniques; disease management tactics, and field selection of promising Foc-resistant Cavendish varieties/genotypes for local farmer- cooperators. Initial capacities and training needs of farmer-cooperators were determined by way of a rapid rural appraisal (RRA) and participatory rapid appraisal (PRA). Subsequently, knowledge and capacity uptake were assessed towards the end of the project.

Various capacity-building methods were implemented. Embedded in the project design is holding "Farmers’ Field Days", which builds on the concept that farmers learn optimally through participatory learning and direct observation. Farmer-cooperators have opportunities to visit farms of other participating farmers to exchange ideas and actually witness what is happening on-ground. This method also encourages peer learning, and enhances communication skills, and may pave the way for a synergistic approach to project implementation, not only among the farmer-cooperators, but also, among local researchers, extension agents, and national researchers.

Complementing the above activities are production and dissemination of necessary IEC materials and learning modules. These collaterals will be used to increase awareness and knowledge of key stakeholders and engender better appreciation of the approaches and methodologies applied in the project.

Training/capacity-building activities revolved around the thematic issues of disease management, key production practices related to disease management, and postharvest issues related to the market acceptability of the new varieties. 52

Enhancing the capabilities of local researchers, and extension agents on the management of Foc TR4 through trainings, attendance in symposia and related activities

Inasmuch as local researchers, extension agents and national researchers play vital roles in conducting research and cascading research outputs to industry stakeholders, they too need to undergo a series of capacity-building activities. Participation in relevant symposia, trainings and fora, both local and international, ensure that they are kept abreast of current trends and scenarios, scientific knowledge and technologies. Up-to-date knowledge (local and global) of industry concerns and trends enables them to appropriately respond to the challenges that beset the industry and likewise, to design or adopt technologies and methodologies best suited to prevailing situations. Specifically, extension workers and researchers involved in the implementation of the project participated in scientific symposia that were targeted towards Foc disease management.

Short-term training/study visits in laboratories and fields of advanced institutions where TR4 has been well studied such as The Taiwan Banana Research Institute, and QDPI in Australia, were also carried out.

Selected participants in the abovementioned activities were required to submit comprehensive travel/study reports and to re-echo the learnings from the activities. These comprise an important output of the project to ensure that knowledge gained will be shared to multiply the benefits and optimize results in this capacity-building effort.

Activities Undertaken A. Farmers’ Field Days

The First Farmers’ Field Day was conducted on November 16, 2013 at the Philippine Fresh Fruits Corp Farm in Lasang, Davao City and GEA Farm at New Corella, Davao del Norte. The event was attended by farmer-cooperators under the DA-BAR project and representatives from research institutions such as the BPI- DNCRDC, DA-RCPC, academy (UPLB), government agencies (DA-RFO-XI, LGUs) and private industry in the country (over 60 participants). The Director of the Taiwan Banana Research Institute (TBRI), Dr. CP Chao came to attend the event. The TBRI is the source of the somaclonal variants (GCTCVs) being tested in the farms (as stated in the Project 1 report above).

The Field Day activity was conducted: (1) To provide an avenue for more effective and optimum learning through farmer-to-farmer information exchange and discussions in actual field settings; (2) To feature the very good performance of GCTCV 219 in terms of field resistance to Fusarium wilt and crop stand in the field; and (3) To showcase the fruit harvests and initially evaluate them in terms of their fruit qualities to test for their market acceptability. 53

Figure 1. During the Farmers’ Field Day - Mr. Emil Diamante, Operations farm manager of Phil Fresh Fruits with Dr. C.P. Chao of the Taiwan Banana Research Institute

Figure 2. Participants of the Farmers’ Field Day at GEA Farm, New Corella, Davao City

The Second Farmers’ Field Day was conducted in November 2014 at VP Mauro and Sons Farm at Calinan, Davao City (Figure 3). This was conducted to showcase the small to medium-scale production of GCTCV 219 at its plant crop and ratoon crop stages. A second field day was also necessary for training of the new set of interested recipients of the fusarium wilt resistant GCTCV 219 variety.

The field day was attended by new farmer collaborators from Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley Province, municipal and provincial LGU representatives, government agencies from BPI-DNCRDC and DA-RFO XI, representatives from the private banana company (SUMIFRU) and also attended by Dr. Chao of TBRI (Figure 4). More than 60 participants were present during the field day.

The Philippine Fresh Fruits Farm, one of the farmer-cooperators in Davao City, has been instrumental also as a venue for the farm visits of the international participants of the 9th Banana Asia-Pacific Network (BAPNET) Steering Committee Meeting. Representatives from 14 countries all over Asia and the Pacific, namely: Australia, Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, The Pacific Community, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and a representative from Taiwan Banana Research Institute visited and participated in the Field Day of the BAPNET Steering Committee Meeting last November 2014. The participants were able to see a healthy established plantation of the resistant Cavendish clone variety, GCTCV 219 on Fusarium wilt-infested soil. The bunches of GCTCV 219 were displayed together with ripened fruits of the resistant variety (Figure 5).

Figure 3. Mr. Jonas Mauro, co-owner of the VP Mauro and Sons Farm sharing to new farmer collaborators his own experience with GCTCV 219 variety

Figure 4. Farmers’ Field Days are also an avenue for technical discussions for Fusarium wilt and exchange of ideas on disease management strategies in the field.

Figure 5. Field Day of the 9th BAPNET Steering Committee Meeting at the Philippine Fresh Fruits Farm in Davao City.

B. Continued farmers’ capacity-building activities

As indicated in the project proposal, continued need-based capacity-building of farmer-cooperators and field visits were done. Activities of Bioversity and local partners (BPI and DA-RCPC) involved data gathering for yield and agronomic traits, monitoring of existing GCTCV 219 plantings and technical assistance to collaborating farmers (Figure 6), establishment and monitoring of new plantings in Compostela and other municipalities of Davao del Norte (Figure 7). The farmer-cooperators were the major players in these activities.

With continued farm visits, the project was able to get information as to the response of the farmer-cooperators to the introduced resistant somaclones. After 2 to 3 cropping seasons of the GCTCV 219, the resistance of the variety to Foc TR4 was found stable, having 0 to 1% disease incidence. However, farmers were not convinced with the agronomic standing and yield of the GCTCV 219 variety because of its higher number of days to shooting and smaller bunch weights. Instead, they were more interested in the GCTCV 218 variety, having heard through word of mouth among banana growers that the variety was resistant and its agronomic traits were almost similar to the Cavendish.

Towards the last year of the project, farm visits were continued in Compostela Valley (ComVal). Farmer-cooperators in ComVal started using gibberellic acid hormone on the GCTCV 219 plants for bunch neck elongation that improves the bunch angle as it develops. According to growers, with the use of the hormone, hand formation was improved because of better bunch formation (Figure 8).

C. Department of Agriculture Region XI Adoption of the Use of GCTCV 219 for Fusarium Wilt Management

The Department of Agriculture-Regional Crop Protection Center (DA-RCPC) Office Region XI, headed by Dr. Susan Razo, leveled up the public awareness campaign and farmers’ training in the whole of Region XI. Through the initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA), a survey was conducted as to the number of farmers affected by Foc TR4 in Region XI and the size of farms affected by the disease. Table 1 shows the extent of disease spread in the region. Based on the survey, 15,000 hectares of banana plantations in Region XI are infested with Foc TR4. This affected 7,000 independent banana growers, 6,000 of them coming from Davao del Norte Province alone.

To address the problem of Fusarium wilt on Cavendish, the DA-RCPC promoted several interventions. One of the introduced interventions was the use of resistant somaclones. The initial result of the project demonstration farms on its 1st and 2nd 58

Figure 6. Monitoring of experimental area, data gathering and technical assistance were given to collaborating farmers with established GCTCV 219 plantings

Figure 7. Monitoring and field visits of new plantings of GCTCV 219 in Compostela Valley, Asuncion and Carmen Davao del Norte.

Figure 8. Plantings of GCTCV 219 in Compostela Valley treated with N-Large. (A) Banana bunch without N-Large; (B) GA hormone injected with the other bud treatments; (C) Longer bunch necks; (D) GCTCV 219 with better hand formation

60 year greatly influenced the decision of the government office to adopt the use of the resistant somaclone GCTCV 219. DA identified 18 collaborating farmers from Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte as demonstration plots for GCTCV 219 to introduce the resistant banana variety to local banana growers. The demo farms were visited as model farms during farmers’ field days for their observations – hosted by the DA Region XI. Together with the demo plots, DA-RCPC also took the lead in training independent banana growers in the whole of Region XI (Figure 9) producing primers and public awareness information banners along the highways on Fusarium wilt management practices in their local dialect, ‘Cebuano’ (Figures 10 & 11).

The Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the marketing arm of the DA also hosted the first GCTCV 219 Market Forum in June 2015 at Apo View Hotel. The forum was attended by representatives from PBGEA, MBFEA, several commercial banana companies and local independent banana growers of Region XI. The Project Leader Dr. Agustin Molina was invited as speaker in the event (Figure 12).

Thousands of banana growers were targeted in the information campaign. A total of 1,548 farmers attended the Foc TR4 management trainings of the Department of Agriculture (Table 2). In total, 993 farmers from all over Region XI provinces were interested in planting the resistant somaclones, and based on their reported infested area of more than 600 hectares, approximately 1 million GCTCV 219 plantlets were needed for distribution and planting.

As of March 2016, through the funding of the Department of Agriculture, a total of 45,000 ready-to-plant seedlings of GCTCV 219 have been distributed for free to banana growers of Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao City covering 30 hectares of infested banana areas of Region XI (Table 3). In the middle of 2016, with the clamor of farmers for GCTCV 218 instead of 219, DA decided to shift to the production of GCTCV 218. For the purpose, the Department of Agriculture forged an agreement with Lapanday Food Corp for the production of GCTCV 218 plantlets for 2017.

Figure 9. Trainings and lectures conducted by DA- Regional Crop Protection Center XI in the province of Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Davao City

Table 1. Total area of independent farmers’ fields infested with Foc TR4 in Region XI Province Area Infested (has.) No. of Farmers Infected Davao del Norte 13,743 6,471

Compostela Valley 1,082.78 363

Davao Oriental 36 46

Davao City 209.75 175

Davao del Sur 436 92

Total 15,507.53 7,147

Table 2. Farmer participants of the Fusarium Wilt management trainings conducted by the Department of Agriculture in Region XI Province No. of Participants

Compostela Valley 424

Davao Occidental 122

Davao del Norte 508

Davao del Sur 311

Davao City 183

Total 1,548

Table 3. GCTCV 219 plantlets distribution to select provinces of Region XI Province Number of Plantlets

Compostela Valley 20,000

Davao del Norte 32,270

Davao City 5,500

Total 57,770

Figure 10. Information and Extension Materials for Fusarium Wilt management in ‘Cebuano’ made available for local banana growers

Figure 11. Fusarium wilt management information signs along the highway of Region XI provinces

Figure 12. GCTCV 219 Market Forum hosted by the Department of Agriculture, June 2015

Capacity-building of Technical Staff

• Participation in Local Scientific Conferences

• Molina, AB et. al. 2013. Mitigating banana Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 through a farmer-participatory approach of developing disease management strategies. Poster presented at the 44th Anniversary and Annual Scientific Conference of the Pest Management Council of the Philippines, Inc. held on March 5-8, 2013, Hotel Centro, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

Two (2) participants of the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Pest Management Council of the Philippines were sponsored by BPI last May 4-7, 2014 at Cebu City. A poster paper on the objectives and current progress of the project was presented during the conference. Involved were:

1. Dr. Lorna E. Herradura, Center Chief IV, Bureau of Plant Industry-Davao National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-DNCRDC) 2. Mr. Cyril Montiel, Research Associate, Bureau of Plant Industry-Davao National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-DNCRDC)

• International Banana Symposium- Davao City Philippines November 19-22, 2014

Four (4) individuals from the local BPI-DNCRDC were sponsored to participate in the International Banana Symposium held on November 19-22, 2014 in Davao City Philippines. This was part of the capacity-building of the DA-BAR project. Attendees were:

1. Mr. Cyril Montiel, Research Associate, Bureau of Plant Industry-Davao National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-DNCRDC) 2. Ms. Jonalyn Pabuaya, Research Associate, Bureau of Plant Industry-Davao National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-DNCRDC) 3. Mr. Celso Carreon, Senior Agriculturist, Bureau of Plant Industry-Davao National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-DNCRDC) 4. Ms. Concepcion E. Soguilon, Supervising Agriculturist, Bureau of Plant Industry- Davao National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-DNCRDC)

http://www.zacsarian.com/davao-trade-expo-intl-banana-symposium-nov-19- 22-2014/

Public Awareness

In popular language, the results of the DA-BAR funded project, “Mitigating banana Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 through a farmer-participatory approach of developing disease management strategies” were featured in Agriculture Magazine, a publication of the Manila Bulletin (Figure 13). The collaborating farms were visited by Agriculture Editor Mr. Zac Sarian. The current status of the Fusarium wilt incidence in Davao provinces, its effect in small scale independent banana growers and the banana industry in the province and the management and mitigating strategies, such as the use of fusarium wilt resistant somaclone variants, being implemented by the banana growers, were documented and published.

Another article was published in the Agriculture section of the Manila Bulletin featuring the new variety GCTCV 219 being resistant to Fusarium wilt, giving farmers an option to managing the increasing problem with the soil-borne disease. The article may be accessed through the link: -- http://www.mb.com.ph/new-variety-resists- banana-disease/

The project was also featured in one of the segments of Mag-Agri Tayo (Let's Agri) on PTV 4 last October 2014. The video may be found on this link on the YouTube channel of Mag Agri Tayo -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuOLVdVNGTA

Bioversity International as represented by Dr. Agustin Molina has been invited to numerous international and national conferences to talk about the management of Fusarium wilt, economic impact of common banana diseases – particularly Fusarium wilt and Sigatoka, and the latest update on the status of Fusarium wilt disease in the Philippines and South East Asia. The outputs and learnings from the Philippine research and experience on the management and mitigation of Fusarium wilt were also presented in the following conferences where he was invited as plenary/guest speaker:

• CORBANA International Banana Congress VI and the XXI International Meeting of ACORBAT – the Association for Cooperation & Comprehensive Musaceas (Banana and Plantain) Development, April 19-22, 2016, Florida, USA.

Plant Genomics Conference, July 14-15, 2016 in Brisbane, Australia, presenting the paper "Resistance of different Musa varieties to some strains of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc) with particular focus on Foc Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) in the Philippines"

• International Symposium on Tropical Fruits, organized by the International Tropical Fruits Network at Grand Regal Hotel Davao City, August 2016

• Annual Banana Symposium of the Association of Banana Exporters in Ecuador (Asociacion de Exportadores de Banano del Ecuador-AEBE) in Guayaquil, Ecuador, October 2016.

Figure 13. Cover of the April 2014 Issue of the Agriculture Magazine, featuring the big bunch of GCTCV 219 with Dr. Agustin Molina and Mr. Emil Diamante, Farm Manager of the Philippine Fresh Fruits Corporation in Davao City

Figure 14. Screenshot of the Mag Agri Tayo Segment featuring outputs of the project on Mitigating banana Fusarium Wilt

Accomplishments and Major Findings

During project implementation, a total of 21 farms planted with GCTCV 219 as experimental variety and Grande Naine as check variety was established all over the Davao Region (Region 11). Each of the independent Cavendish banana farms agreed to collaborate with the project without any financial assistance for the management of the experimental plots. Farm experiments for evaluation of disease resistance and agronomic traits of GCTCV 219 against Grande Naine were established in the following locations: Davao City – Calinan, Toril, Bunawan, Lasang; Davao del Norte – Panabo, Tagum, Asuncion, New Corella, Carmen; and Davao del Sur – Sta Cruz and Kiblawan.

While the trials are very much a work in progress, preliminary results show that GCTCV 219 is significantly more resistant to Foc TR4 than Gran Naine as indicated by disease symptom incidence. After data gathering for the 2nd year, it was observed that for the plant crop of Grand Naine, most farmers had 100% disease incidence. In contrast, GCTCV 219 only showed 1% disease incidence for the plant crop. The stability of resistance of GCTCV 219 extended into the ratoon crop, as it was observed that there was no further increase in disease incidence.

Agronomic traits were also evaluated for GCTCV 219. It was observed that the resistant variety had floating mats and the pseudostems were taller – that that made it prone to pseudostem breakage and longer days to shooting than the Gran Naine. As for the bunch weights and box-stem ratio, yields from the resistant variety were variable depending on the management practices of the individual farmers from one farm to another. The highest bunch weight obtained was 20kg for the plant crop from Phil Fresh Fruits Farm. The highest box- stem ratio was 1.7 from CFARBEMCO. The initial problem with deformed fingers – that caused some farmers to dislike GCTCV 219 – was inventively addressed by re-packaging the resistant variety by clusters of 4-fingers. This packaging is now being shipped to Japan under the brand, “Miyabi” and is commercially successful.

The success or failure of the field trials was not only dependent on the resistance of GCTCV 219. Several collaborators were not committed in implementing appropriate cultural practices and farm inputs. As such the plants were less productive and in some cases abandoned by the collaborator. Those who implemented good practices as they did previously on Grand Naine, before they were hit by Foc, obtained good yields and exportable fruits, and were happy with GCTCV 219 as an option to Gran Naine in severely affected farms.

Farmer collaborators were selected by design to represent different growing conditions in Davao and nearby provinces. A very relevant data that we have observed in this study is the evident interaction between days to shooting and bunch characteristics of GCTCV 219 with locations particularly to site elevation. GCTCV 219 shoots as long as 445 days in an elevation of more than 700 meters compared to less than 300 days in the lowland.

In well managed farms, the project allowed us to select clones of GCTCV 219 with improved traits based on plant height, days to shooting and bunch weights. Improved clones were identified, tagged, selected and multiplied in vitro for subsequent field verification and evaluation. The propagated seedlings of the selected clones of GCTCV 219 were again distributed to farmers who were willing to test the clone selections in their Foc TR4-infested banana farms. The selections were planted in the infested farms of (1) Mauro Farm at Calinan, Davao City, (2) Tagalog Farm at Asuncion, Davao del Norte and (3) MDR-Lim Farm at Tagum, Davao del Norte. The GCTCV 219 selections are now at their vegetative stage, expecting to shoot by the 1st quarter of 2017.

Recurrent selection takes a longer time but is essential if we have to improve the agronomic traits of a resistant variety for better acceptability as an alternative variety to the susceptible Gran Naine. Currently, Mauro Farm at Calinan, Davao City has the first batch of selections for GCTCV 219 based on their good agronomic traits, bunch sizes, early shooting and acceptable box stem ration.

Despite the availability of GCTCV 219 as an alternative variety to Gran Naine, another somaclone variety GCTCV 218 was evaluated in farmers fields and the variety gained the interest of more banana growers since the agronomic traits of this variety is very close to the agronomic traits of GCTCV 218. More and more banana growers shifted to the use of GCTCV 218 despite of its moderately resistant rating. More commercial banana farmers preferred the planting of GCTCV 218 because of its higher box stem ratio and shorter days to shooting than GCTCV 219. The project started distributing planting materials to performing farmer collaborators of the project. Until the Department of Agriculture Region XI took up the expansive distribution of GCTCV 218 to more banana growers of the region. Through the leadership of Bioversity International and in collaboration with Lapanday Food Corporation, DA- Region XI purchased more than 1.3 million plantlets of GCTCV 218 that will cover approximately 8,000 hectares of banana farms of small banana growers. To date, 120,000 plantlets have been distributed to 249 banana growers of the Davao Region and Compostela Valley Province, these plantlets were planted in 80 hectares.

References:

Molina, A.B., E.G. Fabregar, E.B. Ramillete, M.M. Loayan and V.O. Sinohin. Field resistance of Cavendish somaclone variants and local cultivars against Fusarium wilt (TR4) in the Philippines. In: Book of Abstracts of the 44th Annual Scientific Conference of the Pest Management Council of the Philippines: Government-Industry-Farmers’ Partnership: A Unified Approach in Addressing Key Challenges on Pest Management. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. PMCP. March 2013. p. 58.

Molina, A.B., A. Viljoen, E. Fabregar, D. Karamura, E.B. Ramillete, V.O. Sinohin, O. Sheng and G. Yi. Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in African bananas. In: Book of Abstracts of the 44th Annual Scientific Conference of the Pest Management Council of the Philippines: Government-Industry-Farmers’ Partnership: A Unified Approach in Addressing Key Challenges on Pest Management. Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. PMCP. March 2013. p. 59.

Molina, AB. 2012. Philippine Banana Industry in the Face of Fusarium Wilt Epidemic: Perils and Prospects. SEARCA ADSS, February 7, 2012, Los Banos, Philippines.

Molina AB Jr., RO Soquita, VGO Sinohin and ET Fabregar. 2011. Comparison of host reaction to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 and Agronomic Performance of Somaclonal Variant ‘GCTCV 119’ and ‘Grand Naine’ in commercial farms in the Philippines. Acta Horticulturae 897: 399 – 402.

Molina, AB, E Fabregar, VGO Sinohin, G Yi and A Viljoen. 2009. Recent occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 in Asia. In D Jones and I Van den Bergh (eds). Proceedings of the International Symposium on Banana Crop Protection, Sustainable Production and Improved Livelihoods held at White River, South Africa. September 10-14, 2007. Acta Horticulturae 828: 109-115. International Society for Horticultural Science.

Molina AB, EG Fabregar, VGO Sinohin, G Fourie and A Viljoen. 2008. Tropical Race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense causing new Panama wilt epidemics in Cavendish varieties in the Philippines. Phytopathology Journal, Volume 98, Number 6 (Supplement) June 2008, S108 p. ISSN 0031-949X

Molina, AB. 2004. The National Repository, Multiplication and Dissemination Centers: An instrument to the banana development program in Asia and the Pacific. Advancing banana and plantain R&D in Asia and the Pacific. In AB Molina, VN Roa, I Van den Bergh, MAG Maghuyop and KH Borromeo (eds). Proceedings of the 2nd BAPNET Steering Committee meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, 6 - 9 October 2003. 166p. ISSN 1729-0805

Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA). 2011. Davao City, Philippines.

ANNEXES

Annex Table 1. Description of farm collaborators in Davao Provinces and Compostela Valley Total No. Seedling Planted Farmer Cooperator Location Date of planted GCTCV Gran 219 Naine 1. Phil Fresh Fruits Corp. Lasang, Davao City Oct. 4, 2012 3800 200 2. LHM Agri.Dev’t Corp San Isidro, Bunawan, Dvo City Oct. 23-24,2012 2000 200 3. Bancud Farm Cuambogan, Tagum, DNorte Oct.23-24,2012 1800 200 4. Lapiz Farm Talomo, Sto. Tomas, DNorte Oct. 23-24,2012 1800 200 5. Tindoc Farm San Nicolas, Panabo, DNorte Dec. 13, 2012 1500 200 6. GEA Farm San Roque, New Corella, DNorte Dec. 13, 2012 7500 200 7. CFARBEMCO Farm Mangakal, Carmen, DNorte Dec. 18, 2012 700 200 8. SFARBEMCO Farm Camoning, Asuncion, DNorte Jan. 9-10, 2013 700 200 9. GADI Farm Tagnanan, Mabini, Comval Prov. Dec. 19,2012 300 100 10. TVPI Farm Tagnanan, Mabini, Comval Prov. Dec 19,2012 1100 200 11. Lupiba Farm Tugbok, Davao City Jan. 14-15, 2013 1,500 200 12. Baer Farm Nanyo, Panabo City Feb 16, 2013 500 0 13. Mauro Farm Calinan, Davao City Feb 21, 2013 2,000 0

14. Fabian Farm Talomo, Sto. Tomas, DNorte Feb. 28- Mar1, 2013 2000 0

15. Mejos Farm Sibulan, Sta Cruz DSur March 21, 2013 1500 0 16. Donal Farm Daliawon, Toril, Davao City March 8, 2013 500 0 17. Rotersos Farm Cuambogan, Tagum, DNorte March 4, 2013 500 0 18. Matuguina Farm Tugbog, Davao City Aug. 23, 2013 1700 0 19. Musahamat Farm Lamanan Davao City Aug. 5, 2013 1800 200 20. JJMA Agrodev’t Corp Kiblawan, DSur July 22, 2013 1000 0 TOTAL 33,400 2,500

Annex Table 2. Additional farm collaborators in Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley in collaboration with DA XI – Regional Crop Protection Center

Farmer Cooperator GCTCV 219 Location Date of planted Seedlings

Davao del Norte 1. Remedios Campomanes Magatos, Asuncion June 9, 2014 500 2. Edilberto Martinez Kapalong May 5 & 11, 2014 500 3. Naliza Porza Datu Abdul, Panabo August 2, 2014 500 4. Aguiluz Melfar Prk 1, Tanglaw B.E. Dujali June 11, 2014 500 5. Leonida Ponteras Prk 9, Alejal, Carmen June 28, 2014 500 6. Margarito Evangelio, Jr. Prk 1, Mesaoy, New Corella June 18-20, 2014 500 7. Nelson Chua Mankilam, Tagum City June 22-24,2014 500 8. Romeo Fabriquiz Balagunan, Sto.Tomas June 20, 2014 500 Compostela Valley 9. Ceferino Mante Tamia, Compostela August 8, 2014 500 10. Kahaziel mante Prk 5, Mapaca, Compostela August 8, 2014 500 11. Gilton Almocera Bangongon, Compostela July 19, 2014 500 12. Hermino Calalas Prk 1 Bantaca, New Bataan July 12, 2014 500 13. Davies Ycot Mamunga, Monkayo August 15, 2014 500 14. Dante Ycot Mamunga, Monkayo August 21, 2014 500 15. Darius Ycot Mamunga, Monkayo August 15, 2014 500 16. Dean Ycot Mamunga, Monkayo August 15, 2014 500 17. Felipe Dalago, Jr. Tobo Tobo, Monkayo October 8, 2014 500 18. Gimma Cagalitan San Miguel, Compostela July 20, 2014 500 19. Rogelio Algones San Miguel, Compostela July 30, 2014 500 20. Rosale Secuya Bgy. Anilagan, Nabunturan October 20, 2014 500

(b ) Annex Table 3. Description of farm collaborators in Davao Provinces and Compostela Valley

Farm Name Contact Farmer Location

1 Philippine Fresh Fruits Corporation Luciano L. Puyod Licanan, Lasang, Davao City

2 LMH Agricultural Development Christopher Labor San Isidro, Bunawan, Corporation Davao City

3 Geralde Farm Rowel A. Geralde San Vicente, Asuncion, Davao del Norte

4 Bancud Farm/DJ Farm Alex Bancud Purok San Antonio, Cuambongan, Tagum City

5 Lapiz Farm Samuel Lapiz Talomo, Sto Tomas, Davao del Norte

6 George Emily Asea (GEA) Farm GEA Farm San Roque, New Corella, Davao del Norte

7 Tindoc Farm Edwin Tindoc San Nicolas, Panabo City

8 Checkered Farm Agrarian CFARBEMCO Mangalcal, Carmen, Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Davao del Norte Cooperative (CFARBEMCO)

9 Soriano Fruits Agrarian Reform SFARBEMCO PurokMahayhayCamunin Beneficiaries Cooperative g, Asuncion, Davao del (SFARBEMCO) Norte

10 Tagnanan Crap Beneficiaries TCBC Tagnanan, Mabini, Cooperative (TCBC) Compostela Valley Province

11 Mampising Carp Beneficiaries MCBMPC Farm Mampising, Mabini, Multi-Purpose Cooperative Compostela Valley Province

12 Lupida Farm George Lupida Guinga, Tugbok District, Davao City

13 Mauro Farm V.P. Mauro & Sons Purok 2, Upper Lacson, Agricultural Calinan, Davao City Development Corp.

14 Fabian Farm FabianFlor Talomo, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte

15 JC MEjos Farm Jules C. Mejos Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur

16 MDR/LIM Farm Manuel D. Rotersos 1083 Purok dela Cruz, Mankilam, Tagum City

17 Mataguina Farm MamertoMatuguina Guinga, Tugbok District, Davao City

Annex Figure 4. Survey Questionnaire

Banana Growers’ Survey

Enumerator: ______Date: ______

I. The Farmer (Demographic Profile)

Owner: ______Age : ______

Contact number(s) ______Farm Name ______Farm address ______Educational attainment

[ ] Elementary [ ] High School [ ] College

Status of land ownership (please check) [ ] Owned [ ] Tenant [ ] Cooperative [ ] Others, specify ______Farmers’ Main Occupation (please check) [ ] Farming [ ] Business [ ] Employee [ ] Others, specify______

Monthly income (PhP)/ annual farm Income ______

What is the major source of income? ______

Importance of banana production to the family [ ] Very important (main source of livelihood) [ ] Moderately important (supplementary source of income) [ ] Low importance (backyard production for family consumption

II. The Farm Site and Environmental Data

Farm Size (ha): ______Planting Distance (m): ______

Date of planting: ______Size of infected area (ha) ______

Type of irrigation: ______Ave rainfall (mm): ______

Soil pH: ______Temp (high): ______

Soil type: ______Temp (low): ______

Ave RH: ______Altitude: ______

Farm description

[ ] flat [ ] sloping [ ] hilly [ ] others ______

Type of cropping system

[ ] mixed cropping [ ] banana monoculture [ ] mixed banana varieties

If mixed cropping, what other crops are planted in the area? ______

If mixed banana varieties, what are these varieties planted in the area? ______

Banana diseases observed in the farm 80

______

Farm History and Information

Year when first Foc symptoms were observed in the farm : ______

What were the crops planted in the area before banana? 3-5yrs ago? ______

What were the pests and diseases commonly observed in the plantation?

[ ] Bunchy top [ ] Moko [ ] Fusarium wilt [ ] Sigatoka

[ ] Nematodes [ ] Borers [ ] Bract mosaic virus

Rank the pests/ diseases mentioned above according to their importance in the plantation

(1 being the most important):

____ Bunchy top ____ Moko ____ Fusarium wilt ____ Sigatoka

____ Nematodes ____ Borers ____ Bract mosaic virus

Does the farmer know the causal organism of Fusarium wilt?

[ ] Yes [ ] No

Where did they learn about Fusarium wilt and it’s causal organism?

[ ] DA facilitated farmers’ forum [ ] Personal communications

[ ] private institution facilitated forum [ ] Personal research/ readings

Does the farmer apply control methods? [ ] Yes [ ] No

What methods have been applied to maintain Fusarium wilt?

[ ] bagging [ ] biological control ______

[ ] burning of infected mat (rice hull) how many bags/ infected mat? ______

[ ] Change of planting materials (seedlings) [ ] change of cultivar

[ ] following [ ] crop rotation, with what crop/s? ______

[ ] disinfecting tools [ ] foot baths

Banana management Type of planting material used • Suckers • Corm • Tissue culture seedlings Supplier of planting material • Own plants / Orchard • Commercial supplier • Government • Others

Farm implements/ machineries and • Shared tools used on farm • Not shared

If sharing implements what implements • Harvesting tools are shared? • Pruning tools • Tillage tools • Land cultivating tools • Sigatoka spraying tools • Others Weed control • None • Hand/ ring weeding • Herbicide • Grazing animals • Other Predominant weed species

Source of irrigation water • deep well • River • Rainfall only • Dam / surface Nutrition management • None • Organic • Synthetic (chemical fertilizer) Describe fertilizer application schedule of farmer and the fertilizers used

Agrichemicals used on the farm • None • Herbicides 83

• Fungicides • Nematicides Source of organic material • Compost • Weeds • Food scraps • Ash • Molasses • Animal waste • Other plant residue…………. If animal waste used from what type of • Chicken animal? • Cattle / buffalo • Goat • Other………………………..

Farmer training needs

What specific training does the farmer need?

[ ] banana production [ ] nursery management [ ] pest disease management

[ ] post-harvest handling [ ] others, specify ______

Annex Table 2. Profile of farmer-cooperators

Educational Attainment Freq. % College 11 65 High School 1 6 Not applicable 5 29 17 100 Farm ownership

Owned 14 82 Cooperative 3 18 17 100 Major source of income*

Banana 17 100 Banana with rice or cacao 2 12 17 *multiple answer Irrigation type

Rainfed 16 94 Deep well 1 6 17 100 Cropping system

Monocrop 16 94 Mixed cropping 1 6 17 100

Annex Table 3. Farm history and information

Foc manifested Freq. % 2006-2007 2 12 2008-2009 5 29 2010-2011 8 47 2012-2013 1 6 no answer 1 6 17 100

Annex Table 4. Knowledge of Fusarium wilt

Does the farmer know the cause of

FW?

Yes 12 70 No 3 18 No answer 2 12 N = 17 100 Where did they learn about FW and its cause?* DA 4 23 Private institution 10 59 Personal communication 3 18 Personal research/readings 1 6 No answer 3 18 N = 17 Does farmer apply control measures for FW? Yes 14 82

No 0 0

No answer 3 18

N = 17 100

Control measures applied against

FW*

Disinfecting tools 16 94 Burning of infected mat 14 82 (rice hull) Foot bath 13 76 Crop rotation 6 35 Fallowing 5 29 Change of cultivar 1 6 Others: 1 6 N = 17

Annex Table 4. Banana management

Plating materials used* Freq. %

Tissue culture seedlings 17 100 sucker 4 24 corm 1 6 N = 17 Supplier of planting materials

Commercial supplier 13 76 Private nursery 2 12 Own plants/orchard 1 6 no answer 1 6 N = 17 100 Farm implements/machineries

Shared 4 24 Not shared 11 65 Shared and not shared 2 12 17 100 Farm implements/machineries shared

Land cultivating tools 5 29 Sigatoka spraying tools 0 29 Harvesting tools 0 0 Tillage tools 1 6 None 11 65 Irrigation type

Rainfed 12 70 Deep well 1 6 Rainfed and deep well 3 18 No answer 1 6