WORK PACKAGE 1 TECHNICAL REPORT FOR THE PROJECT “IMPROVEMENT OF BANANA FOR SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA” REPORTING PERIOD: 01 OCTOBER 2016 – 31 MARCH 2017 1 Executive Summary This report presents the results of progress made by Work Package 1 (WP1) in 2.5 years (1 October 2015 to 31 MARCH 2017) of implementation of a 5-year project entitled “Improvement of Banana for Smallholder Farmers in the Great Lakes Region of Africa”. WP1 is aimed at increased Matooke and Mchare breeding pipeline performance by a 15-20%, higher production of seeds facilitating larger progeny populations from which to select better performing and more pest and disease resistant hybrids. Its key achievements for the last 2.5 years are 5825 hybrids from 4x-2x crosses, 3461 hybrids from 2x-2x crosses, 173 hybrids from 3x-2x crosses and 185 hybrids from Mchare-2x crosses in early evaluation trials, and 48 hybrid selections to be advanced to the preliminary yield trials. There are over 1000 seedlings in screen houses at IITA and NARO generated across all ploidy levels that are being planted in early evaluation trials. More seeds are being generated across ploidy levels. Research on floral biology and cross-ability in Matooke and Mchare is in progress and has so far shown that use of sucrose solution in pollination increases seed set by 108% compared to the conventional pollination technique. Prospects for success of this project with these studies and products are high.
Table 1: Framework and results tracker for a work package 1 where NARO is the lead partner Primary Outcome Intermediate Outcomes Outputs Targets/ Milestones YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 1 Matooke and Mchare breeding pipeline performance increased by a 15-20% higher production of seeds facilitating larger progeny populations from which to select better performing and more pest and disease resistant hybrids 1.1 Profile of female fertile cultivars widened in Matooke and Mchare bananas: from 14 to 37 cultivars 1.1.1 Floral development stages at and after anthesis characterized in 2 Matoke varieties "Inventory of seed set in Matoke varieties and selection of 2 Matoke varieties that are already planted Floral development stages in 2 Matoke varieties identified and characterized Pictorial catalogue on flower developmental initiated" "Characterisation of floral development stages of 2 Matoke varieties (weekly basis) Pictorial catalogue on flower developmental finalized Microscopy: stigma development and pollen tube growth correlated with flower developmental stages" "Floral development stages of 2 Matoke varieties characterised at the moment of pollination (daily basis) Microscopy: stigma development and pollen tube growth correlated with flower developmental stages (weekly basis)" "Floral development stages of 2 Matoke varieties characterised at pollination (daily basis)" NA 1.1.2 Floral development stage at pollination required to obtain maximum seed set and germination determined in 2 Matoke varieties . NA Preliminary correlation between seed set and flower and stigma developmental stages Increased seed set of 10% correlated to specific flower and stigma developmental stages Increased seed set of 20% correlated to a specific flower and stigma developmental stage and correlation with the seasonal - varietal effects Seed germination correlated with bunch maturity and season 1.1.3 Floral development stages at and after anthesis characterized in 2 Mchare varieties "Inventory of seed set in Mchare varieties and selection of 2 varieties for in vitro multiplication and field planting Floral development stages in Mchare in the collection "Characterisation of floral development stages of 2 Mchare varieties (weekly Pictorial catalogue on flower developmental stages initiated" "Characterisation of floral development stages of 2 Mchare varieties (weekly basis) Pictorial catalogue on flower developmental finalized "Characterisation of floral development stages of 2 Mchare varieties (at pollination) Completion of microscopic study on stigma development and pollen tube growth with simultaneous "Characterisation of floral development stages of 2 Mchare varieties (at pollination) Comparison of Matooke and Mchare flower/stigma/ developmental stages" trial trial
establishment of large pollination blocks First pollination and production of Mchare seeds" Progressive generation of 1200 Mchare seeds" Progressive generation of 2400 (cumulative) seeds" 1.4.2 Generation of 200 chromosome-doubled Mchare hybrids "At least 2 Mchare varieties planted as a source of explants for chromosome doubling (see output 11) chromosome doubling initiated" 1.4.3 Generation of Mchare hybrids with chromosome doubled Mchare plants: 200 seeds NA NA 100 chromosome doubled lines crossed with improved diploids " Embryo rescue of doubled line crosses and in vitro regeneration 200 chromosome doubled lines crossed with improved diploids and selfed " "Field evaluation of hybrids Embryo rescue of doubled line crosses and in vitro regeneration 200 chromosome doubled lines crossed with improved diploids and selfed " 1.4.4 2,400 Mchare hybrids evaluated in Early Evaluation Trials (EET) for agronomic performance NA NA Early evaluation ( EET) with 600 hybrids evaluation trial ( EET) with 1200 hybrids Early evaluation ( EET) with 2400 hybrids