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Molina A.B., Eusebio, J.E., Roa V.N., Van Den Bergh I. and Maghuyop M.A.G., Borromeo K.H. (eds).

Advancing banana and plantain R&D in Asia and the Pacific - Vol. 12. Proceedings of the 2st BAPNET Steering Committee meeting. Jakarta (IDN), 2003/10/06-07. Los Baos (PHL) : INIBAP-AP, 2004. ISSN: 1729-0805.

Current status of banana research in India

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Current status of banana research in India


M.M. Mustaffa* and S. Sathiamoorthy Introduction
India is the largest producer of banana and plantain with an annual production of 16.91 tonnes from 490 700 hectares, and accounts to 19% of total world production. Predominantly, banana production in India is polyclonal and under small farming systems. The banana production in India is hampered by various biotic and abiotic stresses and also production has been seriously threatened by decreasing soil fertility and yield decline phenomena. To overcome these constraints, various efforts are in progress at National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), Trichy and also at state agricultural universities. India is one of the centers of origin of banana, and there exists a lot of diversity especially in B rich genomes of northeastern India. B genome, being a source of resistance to different diseases, can also be used as a resistance source in banana breeding programmes.

Genetic resource management


Explorations are undertaken in northeastern India, covering the states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur. Among 109 accession collected, 73 accessions were established at NRCB field gene bank under wetland cultivation system while 36 accessions have been lost due to acclimatization problems. For better establishment of northeast accessions, closer spacing is followed to create a microclimate (shade and high humidity), which could be similar to that prevalent in their natural habitat. Fifty four accessions were characterized for morphological traits using IPGRI banana descriptor. Sixty two accessions have already been deposited to NBPGR, New Delhi for onward submission to ITC, Belgium by NRCB. Efforts are being made to deposit the remaining 11 accessions to NBPGR, New Delhi.

Molecular characterization
Sixteen wild balbisiana accessions were subjected for morphotaxonomic and RAPD analysis. Seven distinct groups were identified based on morpho-taxonomic characterization and clusters (Table 1).
*Principal Scientist, NRCB, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India.

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Advancing banana and plantain R&D in Asia and the Pacific - Vol 12 Table 1. Distinct clusters of balbisiana based on morpho-taxonomic characterization.
Cluster 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Members Borkal Baista, Bhimkol, Manguthamng Sasra Bale, Bhimkol 3, Athiakol 1, Bhimkol 2 Elavazhai 2, Athiakol 2, Elavazhai 1, Athiakol 3 Nendrapadathi, Manohar Bacharia Malbhog Musa balbisiana Attikol

During molecular characterization, only three distinct clusters were identified (Table 2).
Table 2. Distinct clusters identified during molecular characterization.

Cluster 1 2

Members Borkal Baista, Bhimkol and Manguthamng Sasrabale, Musa balbisiana, Bhimkol-2, Bhimkol-3, Elavazhai2, Attikol-1, Bacharia Malbhog, Nendra Padathi, Manohar, Attikol-2, Elavazhai-1, Attikol-3 Athiakol

In addition, 13 balbisiana accessions from Andaman and Nicobar islands were grouped into 2 major clusters using RAPD markers. Cluster analysis with RAPD markers of AAB Silk group accessions. Twenty five Silk group (AAB) accessions were subjected to RAPD analysis and found three basic clusters with primer OPB 04.
Table 3. Distinct clusters identified during RAPD analysis using OPB-04 primer (GGACTGGAGT).
Cluster 1 Member Saapkal, Sakkar Chayna, Malbhog, Dudhsagar, Rasthali, Hybrid Sawai, Sakkal Nagpur, Malbhog 2, Amrithapani 1, Honda, Digjowa, Nanjangud Rasbale. Mutheli, Digjowa 2. Soniyal, Malbhog 3, Nanjangud Rasbale 2, Pisang Raju Bulu, Madhuranga, Ayirankai Rasthali, Kozhikode, Sabri, Ambeli, Tera Kanchi, Amrithapani 2.

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IMTP against fusarium wilt


Twenty one accessions were evaluated in wilt hot spot areas at the Agricultural Research Station, Kovvur, Andhra Pradesh and found that six cultivars Burro Cemsa, Saba, Pisang Lilin, Gros Michel, Bluggoe and local Amrithapani were susceptible to fusarium. The extent of severity for wilt was high in Amrithapani followed by Bluggoe and

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Gros Michel at 12 months after planting while the least was in Pisang Lilin (1.05). The symptom for petiole buckling was high in Amrithapani followed by Gros Michel. Amirthapani scored high (6) followed by Bluggoe (4.75) while Pisang Lilin exhibited the lowest (1.10). The data on growth and yield parameters revealed that all the global hybrids were resistant to fusarium and produced bunches in fusarium sick plots.

Musa Germplasm Information System (MGIS)


NRCB organized a training program on Musa Germplasm Information System (MGIS) in collaboration with INIBAP, France last 21-24 May, 2001 for the benefit of Indian gene bank curators. Eleven banana germplasm curators participated as trainees from all over the country (Kerala-3, Karnataka-3, Andhra Pradesh-1, West Bengal-1, Andaman and Nicobar islands1 and Tamil Nadu2). A workshop on Compilation of Names and Synonyms of Bananas and Plantains in India was also conducted in collaboration with INIBAP, France last 25-26 May 2001. There were three sessions of technical presentations by 12 resource persons from various ICAR and state agricultural universities (SAUs) representing different bananagrowing regions in India. As a result of workshop, a book entitled Names and Synonyms of Bananas and Plantains in India was released during the last BAPNET meeting. NRCB is actively participating in updating global banana database network (MGIS). So far, 809 accessions of passport data and 209 accessions of complete characterization data have been updated and 45 accessions of photographs are available in the MGIS database.

Germplasm exchange
One hundred ninety four accessions were received through NBPGR in New Delhi from ITC in Belgium. Fifty four accessions were maintained at NRCB gene bank while 33 accessions to BRS, Kannara, and 14 accessions to ARS, Kovvur were supplied, respectively, and 4 introductions were given to private firms.

Evaluation of promising introductions in India


Thirty three exotic introductions were evaluated at NRCB, Trichy, Banana Research Station, Kannara and Agricultural Research Station, Kovvur. Among these, 4 accessions namely FHIA-01, FHIA-03, Burro Cemsa and Saba were promising. FHIA-01 and Saba have exhibited better acceptance among growers and were distributed for multi-

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Advancing banana and plantain R&D in Asia and the Pacific - Vol 12

locational trials in state agricultural universities, state government and farmers fields. Four tetraploid introductions from ITC were evaluated at Banana Research Station (BRS), Kannara. FHIA-23 and SH-3336-9 exhibited tolerance to leaf spot diseases and excelled in bunch yield over local cv. Robusta (AAA).

Screening
Resistant to banana stem weevil Bhimkol (BB), Athiakol (BB), Elavazhai (BB), Sapkal (AAB), Dudhsagar (AAA), Pisang Lilin (AA), Pisang Jari Buaya (AA), TCR71-IC-84809, TCR-54, TCR-71-IC-84889, 0447, 0167, 0011 and 0007 were resistant. Resistant to banana corm weevil Manohar (BB), Bhimkol (BB), Hatidat (AA), Kanaibansi (AA), Nadan (AB), 0047 and 0007 were highly resistant. Resistant to burrowing nematode (Radopholus similis) Pisang Batuau, Ney Kunnan (AAB), Pisang Jari Buaya, Pisang Edor, Pisang Seribu (AA), Prata, Tongat (AA), Hybrid SH-3142 (PJBH15 x SH-1734), Yelakkibale, Kadali (AA), Ayiranka Poovan, Pedalimoongil (AAB), Karpuravalli Kunnan (AAB) and Palayankodan were highly resistant. Resistant to root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus coffeae) Kunnan, Nattu Poovan, Karpuravalli, Tongat, Pidi Monthan, Pey Kunnan, Chirapunji, Then Kunnan, Hybrid 74 (Nalli x Pisang Lilin), 21, 55, 65, 84, 88, 109 and 110 were highly resistant. Resistant to spiral nematode (Helicotylenchus multicinctus) Pisang Batuau, Pisang Jari Buaya, Pisang Edor, Prata, Kadali (AA), Padalimoongil (AAB), Kunnan (AAB), Ney Kunnan (AAB), Ayiranka Poovan (AB), Pisang Seribu (AA), Tongat (AA), Anaikomban, Elakkibale, Karpuravalli and Palayankodan were highly resistant.

Crop production
Modified high density planting A spacing of 1.8 x 3.6m with 3 suckers per hill accommodating 4630 plants ha 1 produced 67% more yield than conventional planting with 1.8 x 1.8m spacing (3086 plants ha-1). The incidence of leaf spot disease was low in Robusta banana under the modified high-density planting system. Organic farming

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Inorganic fertilizer was completely substituted by different organic sources of nutrients along with different bio fertilizers viz., Azospirillum and phosphobacteria to enhance the nutrient use efficiency of native and applied fertilizers. The plant protection aspect was taken care of by bio-control means and thereby use of chemical pesticides was avoided. Soil fertility management The cement kiln flue dust (CKFD) @ 0.5kg/plant with 60% recommended K recorded the highest bunch weight and TSS, in Karpuravalli banana. Application of CKFD 0.5kg/plant and distillery effluent (DE) 30 000 lit/ac, saved 40% K fertilizer and produced 25% more yield in Ney Poovan banana.

Crop protection
The minor pests namely banana fruit scarring beetle, small banana weevil, Oriental red mite and Cerambycid beetle were reported from India. Sex pheromones of banana stem weevil were isolated and identified. Plant extracts, entomo-pathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes were isolated and identified for the management of banana weevils. Pseudostem trapping technique had also been developed for banana weevil management. Nematode egg parasitic fungus, Paecilomyces lilacinus, was very effective in controlling root knot nematode eggs by producing antibodies like lilacin and leucinostatin. Sucker dip with Trichoderma viride kills the nematodes by producing toxic extra-cellular metabolites. Growing of Tagetes erecta as intercrop controlled the nematode population effectively in Nendran banana plantation. Cyst nematode Heterodera oryzicola, infecting the tender creamy roots of banana was first time reported in Tamil Nadu. Botanicals like Azadirachta indica, 96.5%, Vitex negundo, 90.5%, Crotalaria juncea, 84.5%, Crotalaria procera, 74.25% and Datura stramonium, 64.25% were highly effective against root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus coffeae, indicating antinemic activity.

Other activities in India


The Global Conference on Banana and Plantain was organized during 28-31 October 2002 at Bangalore by the Association for the Improvement in Production and Utilization of Banana (AIPUB) in collaboration with INIBAP, France. Conference recommendations are as follows:

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- Recognition of a broad genetic base, utilizing regionally preferred cultivars through improvement with conventional and biotechnological breeding approach. - Indexing against viruses and establishment of mother nursery stock of disease-free plant material should be mandatory for all tissue culture laboratories, full package to be developed and brought out by National Agricultural Research System of the ICAR. - Development of agro-climatic specific package of practices along with improved varieties for making banana industry competitive and sustainable. - Improvement of input-use efficiency through standardization of drip and fertigation technology to save on energy, water and cost of production. - Efficient integrated modules to be developed for effective disease and pest management. - Development of pre-harvest bunch care standards for quality banana produce and post-harvest handling standards for smallscale farmers on group basis. - Providing due emphasis in research agenda on product diversification and value addition for better prices. - Development of standards for organic farming and organic produce along with registration and certification. - Due attention on demonstration of technologies at farmers field and refinement thereof involving instates industry and farmers in participating mode by developing effective linkages. The 2 nd Global PROMUSA Banana Breeders Meeting was organized by INIBAP and hosted by NRCB and TNAU during 2327 June 2003 at Coimbatore, India.

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