Suchergebnisse

Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes an area where the East African Highland bananas (Musa-AAA-EA) and plantains (Musa-AAB) meet. However, Musa diversity in this region has never been characterized nor represented in national or international collections, yet increasing human activities and build-up of pests and diseases, especially Xanthomonas wilt of banana and banana bunchy top disease, could negatively affect this diversity. This study assessed, collected and morphologically characterized on-farm Musa diversity in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Musa accessions collected were added to the UCG-Butembo in situ field collection. A total of 90 and 150 farms were assessed, respectively, in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces. High Musa variability was observed in both provinces. Forty-one cultivars (six presumed new) were identified in Ituri Province compared to 38 cultivars (13 presumed new) in North Kivu Province. Nineteen cultivars occurred in both provinces. Beni and Lubero territories in North Kivu and Mambasa territory in Ituri Province had greater Musa diversity, varying between 27 and 38 cultivars, approximately double of the number of cultivars observed in the other territories. Twenty-three of the 34 Musa descriptors contributed more to the discrimination of the cultivars identified across the provinces and were therefore used for grouping the cultivars using principal component analysis (PCA). The Morisita index of similarity between Ituri Province and North Kivu Province territories was less than 0.5, suggesting dissimilarity in diversity between these sites. Six cultivars: 'Kirisirya', 'Pakuma', 'Nziravahima', 'Vuhindi', 'Tundu' and 'Kisubi musa' were reportedly at risk of genetic erosion. ; Peer Review

Studies on banana diversity and distribution have been carried out in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) since the 1950s. However, there are still insufficient data on the distribution of diversity in large areas of the Congo basin. The present study was conducted in the surrounding region of Kisangani (Lubuya Bera sector) and in 24 territories of the Oriental province. Three villages were randomly selected in the Lubuya Bera sector and in each territory, totalling 75 villages. In each village, a group discussion was conducted to assess farmers' knowledge of banana diversity. Ten farmers per village (750 in total), each having at least 20 banana mats, were randomly selected for a diagnostic survey focusing on banana germplasm diversity, criteria that influence the selection of planting material and cultivar preference. Morphological descriptors were recorded and photos taken of each cultivar. In total, 92 cultivars were characterized consisting of 70 Plantains (AAB genome), 11 dessert bananas (AAA, AAB, and AABB genome), 10 cooking bananas (AAA-EA and ABB genome) and 1 ABB cultivar ('Kayinja') used for brewing. Fruit pulp quality, availability of planting material, marketing potential and bunch size were the main criteria used by farmers for selection. The five most appreciated Plantains were 'Libanga Likale', 'Litete', 'Amakake', 'Yumba' and 'Chwachwa', while 'Gros Michel', 'Kamaramasenge', 'Grande Naine', 'Petite Naine' and LSQUOYangambi Km 5' were the most appreciated dessert bananas. Future efforts should also be focused on agronomic, post-harvest and molecular aspects for enhanced knowledge, use and conservation of banana diversity across DR Congo. ; Peer Review

A Musa germplasm diagnostic study assessed on-farm Musa diversity and farmer selection criteria in different altitudes of North Kivu (NK) and South Kivu (SK) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, an important zone of secondary diversification of plantains (AAB genome) and East African highland bananas (EAHB, AAA genome). Diversity was defined using the indices of richness and dominance/evenness. More cultivars (35) were recorded in SK compared to NK (32). However, NK sites had higher cultivar evenness compared with SK. For example, 21 cultivars were grown widely (in three localities) in NK compared with 12 in SK. Long-term on-farm Musa diversity conservation will hence be easier in NK. Cooking EAHB cultivars (35% of Musa landscape) dominated in NK, followed by beer (27%, EAHB + ABB), plantain (21%) and dessert (AAB + AAA, 17%) cultivars. Cooking cultivars were grown across all altitudes, while beer types dominated at the higher altitudes of Munoli (1,733 m) and plantains at the low altitudes in Mutwanga (1,049 m) and Mangodomu (969 m). SK, with predominantly high altitudes (1,553 to 1,992 m), was dominated by beer types (72%). 'Vulambya' (EAHB cooking, 22%), 'Nguma' (plantain, 13%), 'Tundu' (EAHB beer, 10%), 'Pisang Awak' (ABB genome, Pisang Awak subgroup, beer, 8%), and 'Mukingiro' (EAHB beer, 7%) dominated in NK, while 'Nshikazi' (EAHB beer, 66%) dominates in SK. Tolerance of infertile soil, pest and disease resistance and availability of planting materials were key farmer selection criteria that influenced Musa diversity on-farm. Ex situ conservation of rare cultivars with limited cultural importance is recommended to prevent genetic erosion. ; Peer Review