Research Seeks to Identify More Productive Banana
February 8, 2008| |
Researchers from the Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) are developing high yielding banana varieties suited for the Brazilian savannas (Cerrado). Cerrado covers more than 20 percent of Brazil’s surface. It is characterized by poor chemically-deficient soil and hot semi-humid climate.
The team has evaluated 23 pathogen-free banana varieties in terms of fruit quality, resistance to diseases and pests and length of growth cycles. The varieties were obtained by tissue culture or micropropagation, since most species are difficult to breed because of their parthenocarpic (fruit production without fertilization) nature. Head researcher Tadeu Guimarães pointed out the importance of identifying banana varieties that can not only survive in the Brazilian savannah but can also resist pathogens, like the black and yellow sigatoka fungi, that have recently emerged in the region. These varieties will help meet local demand for the crop.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Biofortified Foods and Bioavailability
- Paper Discusses "Drivers of Change in Global Agriculture"
- Transforming Biofuels through Biotechnology
- Field Evidence of Bt Corn and Mytotoxin Reduction
- Uganda Can Take Lead in Biotech Says ABSP II EA Coordinator
- Early Detection of Diseases Using Plant Reflections
- Onion Without the Tears
- Nitrogen Pollution Increases Plant Growth in the Tropics
- Research Seeks to Identify More Productive Banana
- GM Bananas Expressing Increased Nutrient Contents
- Indian BT Cotton Ouput Reaches 66 per cent
- IPRs as an Option to Promote Excellence in Agriculture
- Monsanto's GM Soybean Receives Approvals in Asian Countries
- Oman Sets Up Plant Genetic Resources Committees
- Germany Amends Gene-Food Law
- Scientists Identify Plant Barcode Gene
-
Research Highlights
- Genome Responses Involved in Transitory Thermotolerance
- Increasing the Expression of Anticancer Alkaloids in Perwinkle
- Complete Cassava Chloroplast Genome Sequenced
- GM Tobacco Expressing Aprotinin
-
Announcements
- Tissue Culture Conference in Dhaka
- Ravello Conference on Biotechnology
-
Resources
- India's MOEF Highlights Applications of GM Crops
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 30, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet