Conservation and Utilization of Banana Genetic Resources

Internationally, banana is the most significant fruit crop grown in almost 134 countries across the globe. India has recorded almost 32 species out of 100 species recorded around the world and about 100 landraces/cultivars. They are highly prone to biotic and abiotic stresses, and hence their conservation is of utmost priority for its use in perpetuity. Banana is conserved in about 60 gene banks globally, including the International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre (ITC), KU Leuven, Belgium. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Research Centre for Banana (ICAR-NRCB), Trichy, one of the NAGS (national active germplasm sites) for banana in India, holds Asia’s largest field gene bank with an exclusive collection of crop wild relatives. Conservation has been accomplished using alternate strategies like in vitro, cryo-, and seed gene banks. DNA, embryogenic cell suspension (ECS), and genomic resource bank are also maintained to facilitate advanced molecular studies. Genetic Resources Management program resulted in the rejuvenation of near extinct banana varieties through technical backstopping. Registration of unique germplasm, improved genetic stocks with National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, and protection of farmer and breeders’ varieties with the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPV&FRA), New Delhi, are encouraged in India. Attempts are also being made for gene introgression from wild species into commercial varieties through conventional and nonconventional approaches. More than ten ornamental Musa hybrids have been developed for use in the ornamental industry. The existing mechanism of the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) (fruits and flowers) are being potentially utilized for multilocation testing and release at state and national levels. This chapter deals with the genetic diversity in India, conservation, evaluation for various biotic stresses and their utilization in banana improvement programs.