Genomic Diversity and Breeding in Musa Cultivars

Banana and plantain cultivars (Musa spp.) represent a remarkable example of crop diversification driven by human-mediated hybridisation, polyploidisation and clonal propagation. Wild diploid species such as Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana contributed A and B genomes that, through successive inter- and intraspecific crosses, produced diploid and triploid cultivars with complex genomic mosaics. Polyploidy and structural heterozygosity underlie low fertility but confer traits such as seedlessness and stress resilience. Advances in high-throughput sequencing, cytogenetics and metabolite profiling now enable detailed characterisation of genome composition, chromosomal rearrangements and biochemical signatures. This knowledge is being harnessed to broaden the genetic base of breeding programmes, improve disease resistance, tailor fruit quality and secure food supply in tropical and subtropical regions. Integrating genome-wide association studies, marker-assisted selection and precision cytogenetics promises to overcome fertility barriers, expedite the development of superior cultivars and safeguard banana diversity for global agriculture.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Comprehensive molecular profiling of commercial diploid and triploid banana cultivars has revealed extensive allelic diversity using RAPD, ISSR and SSR markers, identifying cultivar-specific biomarkers for clonal fidelity. Concurrent volatile profiling by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry uncovered over fifty aroma compounds, chiefly esters, that define fruit flavour profiles. The integration of genetic and metabolite data provides a robust framework for authenticating cultivars and guiding breeding for enhanced yield, aroma and quality traits.

Genomic Diversity and Breeding in Musa Cultivars publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in genomic diversity and breeding in musa cultivars across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Polyploidy: possession of more than two complete sets of chromosomes, common in banana cultivars.

Introgression: incorporation of genetic material from one species or subspecies into another through hybridisation and backcrossing.

Chromosomal rearrangement: structural alteration of chromosomes—such as inversions or translocations—that affects recombination and genome stability.

Genomic mosaic: genome composed of segments derived from multiple ancestral populations due to inter-subspecific hybridisation.

Ploidy: the number of complete chromosome sets in a cell, e.g. diploid (2n) or triploid (3n).

References

1. Assessment of genetic diversity and volatile content of commercially grown banana (Musa spp.) cultivars. Scientific Reports (2022).
2. Interspecific introgression patterns reveal the origins of worldwide cultivated bananas in New Guinea. The Plant Journal (2023).
3. Striking variation in chromosome structure within Musa acuminata subspecies, diploid cultivars, and F1 diploid hybrids. Frontiers in Plant Science (2024).
4. Chromosome reciprocal translocations have accompanied subspecies evolution in bananas. The Plant Journal (2020).