Evaluation of Mchare and Matooke Bananas for Resistance to <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Race 1
Privat Ndayihanzamaso,
Diane Mostert,
Megan Ceris Matthews,
George Mahuku,
Kennedy Jomanga,
Happyness Justine Mpanda,
Hassan Mduma,
Allan Brown,
Brigitte Uwimana,
Rony Swennen,
Robooni Tumuhimbise,
Altus Viljoen
Affiliations
Privat Ndayihanzamaso
Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
Diane Mostert
Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
Megan Ceris Matthews
Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
George Mahuku
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Regional Hub, Plot 25, Light Industrial Area, Coca Cola Rd, P.O. Box 34441, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Kennedy Jomanga
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Happyness Justine Mpanda
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Hassan Mduma
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Allan Brown
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Brigitte Uwimana
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Namulonge, P.O. Box 7878, Kampala, Uganda
Rony Swennen
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), c/o The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O. Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
Robooni Tumuhimbise
National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Rwebitaba ZARDI, P.O. Box 96, Fort Portal, Uganda
Altus Viljoen
Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) race 1, is a major disease of bananas in East Africa. Triploid East African Highland (Matooke) bananas are resistant to Foc race 1, but the response of diploid (Mchare and Muraru) bananas to the fungus is largely unknown. A breeding project was initiated in 2014 to increase crop yield and improve disease and pest resistance of diploid and triploid East African Highland bananas. In this study, eight Mchare cultivars were evaluated for resistance to Foc race 1 in the field in Arusha, Tanzania. In addition, the same eight Mchare cultivars, as well as eight Muraru cultivars, 27 Mchare hybrids, 60 Matooke hybrids and 19 NARITA hybrids were also screened in pot trials. The diploid Mchare and Muraru cultivars were susceptible to Foc race 1, whereas the responses of Mchare, NARITAs and Matooke hybrids ranged from susceptible to resistant. The Mchare and Matooke hybrids resistant to Foc race 1 can potentially replace susceptible cultivars in production areas severely affected by the fungus. Some newly bred Matooke hybrids became susceptible following conventional breeding, suggesting that new hybrids need to be screened for resistance to all Foc variants.
