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This work focused on the morphological characterization of plantain cultivars collected in the period 2005–2014 in 280 villages across 9 provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. These cultivars were established in two field collections at the University of Kisangani.Existing descriptors were adapted to better differentiate their variation to address better the taxonomic handicap and the synonymy handicap to improve future research on plantains.Most of the collected cultivars were French plantains (64 out of 98), followed by False Horn (23) and Horn (10) plantains. The bunch type was the main striking difference which allows the quick separation of plantain cultivars into three main types. Other striking differences within plantain were the size of the pseudostem (giant, medium-sized and small-sized) and the bunch orientation (which was generally pendulous or subhorizontal, and rarely horizontal and erect). These three descriptors were considered as main descriptors. Other descriptors (pseudostem colour, immature fruit peel colour, fruit shape, fruit apex, fruit position, number of hands, fruit size, number of fingers per hand and flower relicts at the fruit apex) allowed the differentiation of one cultivar from another within the same main group of bunch type, pseudostem size or bunch orientation. These descriptors are considered as secondary descriptors. Rare descriptors allowed to differentiate one cultivar from all the others in the subgroup. This approach makes the cultivar description logical and faster because it moves from general to particular characteristics, and it offers a platform for reflections on the Pan-African scale of plantain diversity ; Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Belgium ; Peer Review

Plantain is one of the most important sources of food in the African lowlands stretching from the lowlands of Guinea and Liberia to the central basin of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Because plantain cultivars do not produce seeds, plantain cultivation is based on vegetatively transplanted lateral shoots/suckers. The way by which plantain reached the African continent is still under speculation. The aim of this study was to shed light on the history of plantain cultivars through a linguistic/synonymy study in northern Democratic Republic of Congo. We report the diversity of plantains in 18 villages across the Bas-Uele province based on a survey. Three villages in which plantain production systems dominated were selected in each territory, and ten households were consulted in each village. In each selected village, a focus group discussion was conducted with a group of at least 30 men, and with a separate group of 30 women to establish a list of plantain cultivars grown and known. A total of 46 cultivars were identified and 294 synonyms detected. The cultivar names are mostly related to animal features and agronomic traits, although there is a need to revisit the list for more specific traditional names. The local differences in cultivar identity, density and distribution are explained partly due to the influence of humid forest versus savanna landscapes, but the main part seems to be due to previous movements of Benza, Boa, Ngbandi, Rambo and Zande ethnic groups with their own set of cultivars. We demonstrate that the recorded synonymy data are useful for a tentative partial reconstruction of the history of some cultivars. This is useful for the genetic improvement of plantain cultivars, which most probably will have to rely for a great deal on the unraveling and management of epigenetic mechanisms. ; Peer Review

Open Access Journal; Published online: 28 June 2018 ; Plantain is one of the most important sources of food in the African lowlands stretching from the lowlands of Guinea and Liberia to the central basin of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Because plantain cultivars do not produce seeds, plantain cultivation is based on vegetatively transplanted lateral shoots/suckers. The way by which plantain reached the African continent is still under speculation. The aim of this study was to shed light on the history of plantain cultivars through a linguistic/synonymy study in northern Democratic Republic of Congo. We report the diversity of plantains in 18 villages across the Bas-Uele province based on a survey. Three villages in which plantain production systems dominated were selected in each territory, and ten households were consulted in each village. In each selected village, a focus group discussion was conducted with a group of at least 30 men, and with a separate group of 30 women to establish a list of plantain cultivars grown and known. A total of 46 cultivars were identified and 294 synonyms detected. The cultivar names are mostly related to animal features and agronomic traits, although there is a need to revisit the list for more specific traditional names. The local differences in cultivar identity, density and distribution are explained partly due to the influence of humid forest versus savanna landscapes, but the main part seems to be due to previous movements of Benza, Boa, Ngbandi, Rambo and Zande ethnic groups with their own set of cultivars. We demonstrate that the recorded synonymy data are useful for a tentative partial reconstruction of the history of some cultivars. This is useful for the genetic improvement of plantain cultivars, which most probably will have to rely for a great deal on the unraveling and management of epigenetic mechanisms. ; Peer Review

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