Molecular screening in banana germplasm collection to identify sources of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4.

Abstract

The banana germplasm collection of Epagri- Estação Experimental de Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil, holds 120 banana accessions from different origins, targeting at the conservation and the breeding. One of the main challenges of banana breeding is the selection of plants resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. This study aimed to identify, via molecular markers, the plants resistant to tropical race 4 (TR4), which is currently absent in Brazil. The results showed a wide presence of molecular marks associated with resistance to tropical race 4 in the genotypes of the germplasm collection. This information is important for the advancement of the Epagribanana breeding program.

Keywords

• Fusarium wilt
• SCAR markers
• Musa acuminata
• Musa balbisiana