Articles
MOLECULAR ANALYSIS REVEALS MULTIPLE DOMESTICATIONS OF EDIBLE BANANAS
Article number
897_15
Pages
143 – 152
Language
English
Abstract
Molecular sequence analysis of four genes in a set of 100 cultivated and wild (Musa acuminate and M. balbisiana) banana accessions has been done to determine the origin of edible bananas and plantains.
A few Musa schizocarpa and Australimusa accessions were included as outgroups.
The domestication of edible bananas involves three taxonomic groups: M. acuminate ssp. banksii/errans, M. acuminate ssp. malaccensis/microcarpa/zebrina/burmanica/siamea group and M. balbisiana. Plantains (AAB) and several ABB bananas most likely originated through a hybridisation event between M. acuminate ssp. errans (or more generally the M. acuminate ssp. banksii group) and M. balbisiana. Most AAB bananas such as Mysore and some BBA bananas such as Pisang Awak are the result of hybridisation between M. acuminate ssp. non-banksii and M. balbisiana. Most edible sweet bananas (AA and AAA dessert) are derived from hybridisations between subspecies within the M. acuminate non-banksii group.
Several unique SNPs have been identified in these bananas and East African highland bananas (AAA) that so far have not been found in any of the wild M. acuminate accessions in the International Transit Center (ITC) collection.
A search for these SNPs in the wild Musa populations would shed light on the original location of the hybridising populations that gave rise to the edible bananas.
The variable contribution of parents at different genetic loci indicates that most edible bananas are not direct hybrids, but have gone through a few or several generations of backcrossing.
Some diversity has been found in M. balbisiana. The M. balbisiana involved in the origin of plantains, other AAB bananas and ABB Monthan group is distinct from the M. balbisiana involved in the origin of BBA Pisang Awak group.
A thorough study of the genetic diversity within M. balbisiana throughout its area of distribution is deemed necessary.
The implications for breeding of edible bananas are discussed.
A few Musa schizocarpa and Australimusa accessions were included as outgroups.
The domestication of edible bananas involves three taxonomic groups: M. acuminate ssp. banksii/errans, M. acuminate ssp. malaccensis/microcarpa/zebrina/burmanica/siamea group and M. balbisiana. Plantains (AAB) and several ABB bananas most likely originated through a hybridisation event between M. acuminate ssp. errans (or more generally the M. acuminate ssp. banksii group) and M. balbisiana. Most AAB bananas such as Mysore and some BBA bananas such as Pisang Awak are the result of hybridisation between M. acuminate ssp. non-banksii and M. balbisiana. Most edible sweet bananas (AA and AAA dessert) are derived from hybridisations between subspecies within the M. acuminate non-banksii group.
Several unique SNPs have been identified in these bananas and East African highland bananas (AAA) that so far have not been found in any of the wild M. acuminate accessions in the International Transit Center (ITC) collection.
A search for these SNPs in the wild Musa populations would shed light on the original location of the hybridising populations that gave rise to the edible bananas.
The variable contribution of parents at different genetic loci indicates that most edible bananas are not direct hybrids, but have gone through a few or several generations of backcrossing.
Some diversity has been found in M. balbisiana. The M. balbisiana involved in the origin of plantains, other AAB bananas and ABB Monthan group is distinct from the M. balbisiana involved in the origin of BBA Pisang Awak group.
A thorough study of the genetic diversity within M. balbisiana throughout its area of distribution is deemed necessary.
The implications for breeding of edible bananas are discussed.
Publication
Authors
H. Volkaert
Keywords
Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana, phylogeography, single-copy gene, SNP
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