Genetic Diversity
A genebank holding more than 90% of the existing diversity of cultivated bananas and a representative sample of the wild species of Musa is maintained by Bioversity International at the International Musa genebank in Leuven, Belgium. The collection has been tested for bacteria and viruses and all varieties that tested negative are available for distribution.
There is a very good knowledge of the structure of the Musa species complex based on morphological descriptors as well as molecular markers for the chloroplastic, mitochondrial and nuclear genome. Studies have revealed a great diversity in Musa, providing a good model for the study of gene regulation.
Ploidy and genome size and constitution
- Analysis of nuclear genome size in Musa and Ensete (IEB)
- Evaluation of genome identity and constitution of Philippine Musa Cultivars (especially the Balbisiana group) through flow cytometry (USM)
Karyotyping
- Analysis of genomic distribution of ribosomal DNA in Musa and Ensete (IEB)
Molecular markers
- Development of SSR markers (EMBRAPA, CIRAD, IAEA)
- Development and adaptation of new B genome based SSR, SCAR and SNP-class functional molecular markers based on intellectual
property free available or developed genomic data (IITA) - Development of COS markers for drought tolerance and starch biosynthesis (UL, CICY)
- Developement of markers for somaclonal variation in banana.
Investigating application into a production facility (CWUR) - Developement of A and B genome specific markers in the flanking region of the 18s ribosomal gene (ARCs)
- DNA fingerprinting of Musa accessions available in Mauritius (UOM)
- Genetic diversity analysis using SSR, AFLP and MSAP (CIRAD, IAEA)
- Genetic diversity analysis using IRAP markers and comparison with other marker technologies for diversity evaluation (UL)
- Genetic diversity analysis of the cytoplasmic genomes; chloroplast and mitochondria (ARCs)
- Genetic diversity analysis and phylogeny within EuMusa (IITA)
- Comparative genomic study of the A and B genomes as identified across intraspecific and interspecific Musa, utilizing molecular markers (IITA)
- Diversity arrays for isolation of A and B genome specific gene probes (ARCs)
- Development of DArT and analysis of 200 accessions (DART)
- Genetic diversity analysis of Indian AB, AAB, ABB cultivars and BB types using RAPD, ISSR and SSR markers. (IIHR)
- SSR markers from Musa balbisiana using "Dynabead bead based Microsatellite enrichment Method". (IIHR)
- Genetic diversity analysis of Philippine Musa, germplasm collection through molecular markers (USM)
Variation in repetitive DNA sequences
- Characterization of the repetitive portion of the Musa genome and study of the genomic arrangement of selected repetitive DNA sequences (IEB)