Volume 2 begins with a discussion of progress in identifying and broadening the genetic base for Musa species. This provides the foundation for Parts 3 and 4 which review advances in both conventional and recent molecular breeding techniques and their application in producing improved varieties.
"The editors have assembled a team of leading researchers in banana germplasm and genetic improvement with many years of expertise. This comprehensive compilation takes into account the important and diverse factors affecting long-term banana production sustainability. It will be an important resource for the research community but will be of value to producers and consumers as well."Dr Brian Irish, USDA-ARS PGITRU, USA
Despite bananas being the world's most exported and valuable fruit, banana production faces a number of challenges, primarily the extremely narrow genetic base currently available for commercial cultivation which increases the rate of vulnerability to diseases and other stresses. The sector faces increasing pressure to improve existing varieties, as well as to develop new varieties which retain key yield and quality characteristics and improved resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses.
Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas Volume 2: Germplasm and genetic improvement offers an authoritative discussion of progress in identifying and broadening the genetic base for Musa species. This collection reviews the current conventional and molecular breeding techniques for breeding new varieties of banana, as well as providing coverage on improving traits in Cavendish.
With its distinguished editors and international range of expert authors, Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas Volume 2: Germplasm and genetic improvement will be a standard reference for university and other researchers in tropical fruit science, government and other agencies supporting banana cultivation, as well as commercial banana growers and retailers. This title is accompanied by a companion volume: Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas Volume 1: Cultivation techniques.
Dr Gert Kema is Professor of Tropical Plant Pathology at the Laboratory for Phytopathology of Wageningen University, The Netherlands. He leads several international banana research programs, including interdisciplinary research projects and public-private-partnerships focusing on Panama disease and black Sigatoka. He is a cofounder of several spin-off companies focusing on banana improvement, disease management and bioprocessing.
Dr André Drenth is Professor in Tropical Plant Pathology and Theme Leader for crop protection in the Centre for Horticultural Science at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), at the University of Queensland. He leads several projects on tropical plant diseases and he initiated and led a national Banana Plant Protection Programme set up to protect Australia's banana industry from the impact of a range of pests and diseases.
