Banana developed that is resistant to TR4 and Black Sigatoka

Researchers led by KeyGene (The Netherlands) have developed a banana plant that is resistant to both Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) and Black Sigatoka, two of the most devastating diseases in bananas. Professor of Phytopathology Gert Kema of Wageningen University sees the development of the new hybrid, called Yelloway One, as a breakthrough in banana cultivation: “We knew that we could develop plants that are resistant to these diseases with conventional breeding. Now we have shown it, and above all that we can do it much faster than others by using the latest genetic tools. This is of great importance for the future of banana cultivation.”

The development of Yelloway One comes at a critical time for global banana production. in recent years, TR4 and Black Sigatoka have caused huge losses, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. Yelloway One is the product of conventional breeding techniques. The plant is resistant to TR4, a fungus that can destroy entire plantations, and Black Sigatoka, a leaf disease that drastically reduces yields.

The breakthrough was achieved thanks to a collaboration between Chiquita, KeyGene and MusaRadix and Wageningen University. The experts involved used a combination of conventional crossbreeding techniques and modern DNA analysis technology to accelerate the process of developing resistant bananas. This enabled them to select new varieties faster and more efficiently based on desired properties, such as resistance to diseases.

The fact that banana producer Chiquita is one of the partners does not mean that other banana growers do not have access to these types of new varieties. The technology is also available for other programs.

Yelloway One is a prototype and is currently still grown in a greenhouse in the Netherlands. The plants will soon be sent to areas in the Philippines and Indonesia, where TR4 and Black Sigatoka cause great damage. Field trials there will show how well Yelloway One performs in their natural habitat. This trial is essential to determine whether Yelloway One offers a viable solution for farmers in severely affected regions.

Yelloway One is just the first step in the broader plan of the Yelloway initiative. The aim is to develop a continuous flow of excellent and resistant banana varieties that are genetically diverse, which not only increases the resilience of the cultivation, but also improves the sustainability of the sector.

Source.