Articles
BANANA BREEDING – PAST AND PRESENT
Article number
196_3
Pages
37 – 44
Language
Abstract
Edible bananas are parthenocarpic and normally seedless clones which may be diploid, triploid or tetraploid.
They may be evolved from the species Musa acuminata or may be interspecific hybrids with Musa balbisiana.
Experimentally, the majority can be induced to set at least occasional seeds and breeding methods are assessed based on crosses between diploids, between tetraploids and diploids and between triploids and diploids.
With some but not all triploid female parents this last type of cross can yield tetraploid hybrids, possessing the genotype and the general aspect of the triploid with specific additional characters introduced from the haploid pollen.
Mutation breeding is now beginning to be attempted in bananas but should not displace the production of tetraploid hybrids where this is possible.
They may be evolved from the species Musa acuminata or may be interspecific hybrids with Musa balbisiana.
Experimentally, the majority can be induced to set at least occasional seeds and breeding methods are assessed based on crosses between diploids, between tetraploids and diploids and between triploids and diploids.
With some but not all triploid female parents this last type of cross can yield tetraploid hybrids, possessing the genotype and the general aspect of the triploid with specific additional characters introduced from the haploid pollen.
Mutation breeding is now beginning to be attempted in bananas but should not displace the production of tetraploid hybrids where this is possible.
Authors
K. Shepherd
Keywords