Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION

II. STATUS OF PROJECTS ENDORSED BY THE SUB-GROUP AT ITS LAST MEETING

III. NEW PROJECT PROPOSALS

IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

ANNEX A

Promote the transformation through modern biotechnology tools of commercial banana and plantain cultivars with available precursors, genenes and terminators, through greenhouse and field evaluation of transformed materials

ANNEX B

Screening of Musa variants for reaction to fungal diseases and nematodes

I. INTRODUCTION

1. In its role as the International Commodity Body (ICB) for bananas the Sub-Group endorsed two projects at its last session. Two additional project proposals have been submitted to the Sub-Group for possible endorsement prior to submission to the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC). These proposals are summarized in Annex A and Annex B.

II. STATUS OF PROJECTS ENDORSED BY THE SUB-GROUP AT ITS LAST MEETING

2. At its session in May 1999 the Sub-Group endorsed two project concepts: (i) Farmer-participatory evaluation and dissemination of improved Musa germplasm, with the International Network for the Improvement of Bananas and Plantains (INIBAP) as the Project Executing Agency (PEA) and (ii) Banana Rehabilitation Project in the Republic of Guinea, with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as the Project Executing Agency. Both projects have been approved for funding by the CFC Board. Both projects are awaiting the preparation of the final documentation and signature by the CFC and parties concerned. It is anticipated that final signature will be obtained before the end of 2001 and project implementation can begin in early 2002.

III. NEW PROJECT PROPOSALS

3. The endorsement of the Sub-Group is sought for two additional project proposals. Annex A contains a proposal from the Latin American Biotechnology Consortium to Promote the transformation through modern biotechnology tools of commercial banana and plantain cultivars with available precursors, genenes and terminators, through greenhouse and field evaluation of transformed materials. This proposal involves Mexico, Cuba and Colombia as well as Costa Rica. Annex B contains a proposal from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for implementation in Cameroon, Cuba, Honduras, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines Uganda and Belgium, as well as Costa Rica and France for the Screening of Musa variants for reaction to fungal diseases and nematodes. Both proposals are available to delegates. The proposal summarized in Annex A is available in both English and Spanish.

IV. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4. The Sub-Group may wish to endorse these new project proposals outlined in the annexes as well as any other project proposals at its Second Session for submission to the CFC. Further with regard to the proposals in Annexes A and B, the Sub-Group may wish to encourage the sponsors to coordinate their activities, as they are to some extent similar.

ANNEX A

Promote the transformation through modern biotechnology tools of commercial banana and plantain cultivars with available precursors, genenes and terminators, through greenhouse and field evaluation of transformed materials

The present project aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. To transform, regenerate, propagate and evaluate plants for Black Sigatoka and nematode resistance.
   
   
1. To undertake greenhouse screening for early resistance detection of transformed plant materials.
2. To evaluate selected candidate materials under field conditions.
3. To select outstanding materials for further evaluation.
   
   
2. To undertake field evaluations of new banana and plantain lines in consortium member countries. This includes evaluations for agronomic qualities, post-harvest and eating qualities and putative disease resistance, under internationally accepted best practices for food safety and environmental risk assessment and management.
   
   
3. Estimated total cost: US$5 485 000 for five years.
   
   
4. Funding from CFC: USS$750 000.
   
   
5. Form of funding from CFC: donation.
   
   
6. Co-funding: CORBANA, S.A. as donor of an annual in kind contribution of US$75 000 (personnel, infrastructure and knowledge): US$375 000.
   
   
7. Co-funding modality: Belgian Government US$750 000.
   
   
8. Counterpart contributions: US$3 000 000.
   
   
9. Project Executive Organization: CINVESTAV, Mexico; IBP, Cuba; CIB, Colombia, CATIE and CORBANA S.A., Costa Rica.
   
   
10. Supervision organization: FAO
    
    
11. Estimated initiation time: July 2002.
    

Phytosanitary problems and the cost inherent in intensive chemical control of main diseases require the definition of a focussed research strategy to provide practical solutions within the shortest time possible. Research on Musa has evolved significantly in the past ten years, however, experimental results have not yet gone beyond scientific publications. Therefore, an initiative is needed in order to integrate both institutions and individuals to bring available information together to proceed with their practical evaluation. Such integration of institutions is already in place with the enhanced collaboration for research performance at lowest possible cost; with expected high ratios of return. Involved institutions have agreed to license their gene constructs for evaluation in a way to protect their Intellectual Property on a not for profit basis. Thus, the end beneficiaries would be independent growers of bananas and plantains who will have the chance to access available experimental results transformed into practical instruments to deal with the main diseases affecting their yields. Consumers will benefit as well as they would have commodities that both protect their health, the production environment and banana and plantain producers.

Investment for R&D has been characterized by the lack of proper knowledge transfer to improve elemental agricultural practices in the banana and plantain growing areas, specially in the case of smallholders. The present proposal addresses this issue by providing a new concept of research integration to bring obtained knowledge together in search of practical solutions. Previous experience of participating institutions has made clear that with available regional human and infrastructure resources, practical solutions that might significantly change the cultivation practices can be achieved.

ANNEX B

Screening of Musa variants for reaction to fungal diseases and nematodes

Project Executing Agency: IAEA

Supervisory Body: Sub-Group on Bananas

Location: IAEA, Vienna; Belgium, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Cuba, France, Honduras, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines and Uganda.

Duration: Five years

The three main diseases/pests that significantly affect banana cultivation are Fusarium wilt, Black Sigatoka and nematodes. These diseases/pests can reduce fruit yield by 50 percent. No fungicides can be applied against Fusarium wilt. For Black Sigatoka and nematodes, chemical control strategies exist but are environmentally unsound and are hazardous and too expensive for small landholders.

Breeding is the only sustainable means to reduce the use of pesticides. Just as evolution is based on genetic variation so is breeding. Recent developments in biotechnology provide hope that it will be possible to produce new, desired varieties in a much shorter time than was previously expected.

During the last 15 years the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/International Atomic Energy Agency (FAO/IAEA) Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory has developed in vitro mutagenesis in bananas and plantains. In the last five years, through a FAO/IAEA/Belgian General Direction for International Cooperation (GDIC) programme, efforts were made to optimize mutation induction by overcoming chimerism after mutagenic treatment and to establish an early mass screening method for Black Sigatoka tolerance. Through this project, eight putative mutants originating from Grande Naine were selected for their tolerance to Juglone, which is the main toxin in the fungus responsible for Black Sigatoka disease. This important result needs to be further evaluated and putative mutants to be screened under field conditions in highly plagued areas. This applied research activity can be expanded to screen for other diseases/pests where early pre-screening methods exist.

The generation of new germplasm resistant to diseases, leading to superior cultivars, requires involvement from many institutions. This proposed network would involve 12 institutes principally from developing countries in a five-year programme aimed at resolving common breeding problems related to banana/plantain production in the respective countries.

Project components

Component 1 - Induce genetic variation

Objective: To generate large populations of irradiated plants.

Output: For each genotype, regenerate from irradiated embryogenic cell suspensions at least 2 000 plants

Component 2 - Early pre-screening of putative mutants

Objective: To optimize or develop early mass screening techniques for Black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt and nematodes tolerance
Output: Standardization of early mass screening techniques for the main fungal diseases and nematodes tolerance

Component 3 - Technology transfer and training

Objective: To transfer the methodology to banana growing countries

Output: Scientists from NARS trained on the in vitro propagation techniques, mutation induction and early mass screening

Component 4 - Field screening and evaluation

Objective: To confirm the resistance of putative mutants

Output: Selection of mutants tolerant to Black Sigatoka, Fusarium wilt or nematodes

Component 5 - Review and project evaluation

Objective: Follow-up of activities of each counterpart

Output: Efficient progress of the project to meet defined objectives

Estimated Project Budget

I. External contribution (US$ for 5 years)

II. CFC's contribution (in US$ for 5 years)

III. Total contribution

Total contribution for 5 years: US$2 855 710