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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mayaguez, Puerto Rico » Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #344114
Title: Monitoring the genetic integrity of Bioversity’s International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre: a foundation for the conservation and use of banana genetic resources

Author
item CHASE, R. - Bioversity International
item RUAS, M. - Bioversity International
item MONTALVO-KATZ, S. - Bioversity International
item Irish, Brian
item Rios, Carlos
item GUIGNON, V. - Bioversity International
item LEHRER, K. - Bioversity International
item CHRISTELOVA, P. - Institute Of Experimental Botany
item SARDOS, J. - Bioversity International
item VAN DENHOUWE, I. - Bioversity International

Submitted to: EUCARPIA Capsicum and Eggplant Newsletter
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2017
Publication Date: 5/8/2017
Citation: hase, R., Ruas, M., Montalvo-Katz, S., Irish, B.M., Rios, C., Guignon, V., Lehrer, K., Christelova, P., Sardos, J., Van Denhouwe, I. 2017. Monitoring the genetic integrity of Bioversity’s International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre: a foundation for the conservation and use of banana genetic resources. EUCARPIA Conference, May 8-11, 2017, Montpellier, France.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Conservation strategies rely on the stability and availability of conserved plant genetic resources, both in situ and ex situ. At Bioversity’s International Musa Germplasm Transit Centre (ITC), based at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, the genetic integrity of the in vitro collection is continually assessed. The ITC is the largest banana genebank, with more than 1,500 accessions available to researchers, breeders and the larger Musa community. The stakeholders’ needs are to know that the germplasm that they request is true-to-type, and to be able to access all available data on the germplasm. It is thus extremely important that somaclonal variants and mislabeled accessions are removed from the collection to ensure that users have access to a consistently reliable source of genetic resources. In this assessment, also called field verification, data from the systematic periodical characterization of in vitro plantlets in partners’ field collections are combined with ploidy determination and SSR genotyping data produced by the Musa Genotyping Centre. The compiled morphological, cytological and molecular data are sent to a panel of Musa taxonomists to validate the accessions’ identity. Bioversity has the mandate to not only safeguard banana diversity, but to promote its use for the benefit of current and future generations. It is therefore essential to fully document each accession maintained at the ITC. As a first priority, the field verification process ensures the characterization of the ITC collection, and secondly, it establishes links with studies that help researchers and breeders with their analyses and selections, often revealing potential in lesser used varieties. More accession-level information means greater use of the conserved diversity, leading to increased resilience in agricultural systems. This is where the Musa Germplasm Information System (MGIS) has an important role, by providing links to associated information such as publications on evaluation trials and results of molecular studies.