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Banana - Uganda
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EAST AFRICAN HIGHLAND (EAH) BANANA RESISTANT TO BLACK SIGATOKA AND NEMATODES |
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| Introduction: |
The East African Highland (EAH) banana, also known as matooke, is one of the most important food and cash crops in Uganda. EAH banana, as well as other types of bananas, are susceptible to several diseases which have caused a dramatic decline in productivity. The most serious threats to the banana industry include the fungus black sigatoka, nematodes, and weevils. Black sigatoka alone can decrease yields up to 30-50%. Damage from nematodes can cause crop losses up to 50%.
Antifungal chitinase genes from rice have been transformed into a model banana system and these transgenic plants will be tested for efficacy against black sigatoka in 2007. The plants will be delivered to Uganda from KUL in Belgium to be tested in a contained field trial. If the technology looks promising, the genes will be transformed into several important varieties of EAH banana.
A maize cystatin and other nematicidal proteins are currently being tested in genetically engineered bananas as an approach to protect bananas against nematode infestation. ABSPII is helping researchers in Uganda apply this strategy to locally important banana varieties in an effort to help rehabilitate EAH banana production. |
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| Project Manager: |
Frank Shotkoski, Director, ABSPII |
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| Participating Countries : |
Uganda |
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| Term: |
2005-2008 |
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| Partners: |
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| Technology: |
The antifungal chitinase RCG3 gene is reported to provide protection against black sigatoka fungus. The maize cystatin protein has been shown to effectively control nematodes in bioengineered potatoes and transgenic banana roots expressing the gene under laboratory conditions support substantially reduced numbers of nematodes compared to control tissues. For this project, research is being conducted to assess whether these technologies can be successfully implemented in bioengineered bananas. |
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| Project Status: |
For the nematode project, the primary objective is to test whether bananas bioengineered to produce the cystatin protein and other complimentary nemadicidal proteins can effectively minimize nematode infestation. Studies will also be conducted to assess the safety and sustainability of these strategies.In the long term, efforts will be made to combine these two technologies to develop banana varieties with durable resistance to both black sigatoka and nematodes.
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| Expected Benefits : |
- Professional development opportunities for Ugandan scientists at NARO so they can utilize advanced technology to fight plant diseases.
- Increase banana production at a reduced cost for regional, small-scale farmers.
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| Economic Importance: |
Banana, especially the East African Highland (EAH) banana is one of the most important food and cash crops in Ugandan Agriculture. Despite the obvious importance of banana production to the Ugandan farmer, the last thirty years have seen a drastic reduction in productivity in the traditional banana growing areas of central and southwestern Uganda. Among the most serious constraints to banana production in Uganda are black sigatoka (a leaf spot disease caused by a fungus) and nematodes. Black sigatoka alone can reduce yields by 30-50%. Cumulative yield losses attributed to nematodes are estimated to be up to 50% by the fourth crop year. |
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| Partners Within the Country: |
National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Uganda |
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| Planned Activities and Milestones: |
- Construct a containment facility for testing bioengineered plants at NARO.
- Deliver material to NARO for developing pest-resistant bananas.
- Transformation of locally important banana varieties with resistance genes.
- Testing of bioengineered bananas at NARO.
- Contained testing of bioengineered bananas in Uganda.
- Improvement of laboratory facilities for banana transformation at NARO.
- Aid with patents and licensing to gain access to technology for use at NARO.
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