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- Madalla, Noel
(författare)
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Evaluation and release of East African highland cooking banana ‘Matooke’ hybrids
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The production of East African highland bananas Eastern Africa is under threat by pests and pathogens. Improved banana cultivars with high and stable yield, suitable end use quality, host plant resistance to major pests and pathogens, and adaptation to target population of environments can help boost productivity when combined with sound crop husbandry practices. This study evaluated 24 primary and secondary 'Matooke' banana triploid hybrids [NARITA (N)], six triploid local 'Matooke' cultivars, and one exotic cultivar over three years at three highland sites in Uganda's western and central regions, as well as three sites in Tanzania's northeastern and southern highlands regions. The aim of this investigation was to; (1) assess the relative importance of characteristics used by farmers in Uganda and Tanzania to select improved ‘Matooke’ banana cultivars, (2) identify high-yielding banana genotypes with specific and broad adaptation potential, (3) contribute to the release of four ‘Matooke’ hybrids banana cultivars with the potential of adoption by farmers in East Africa, and (4) carry out molecular verification of newly bred cultivars, ensuring the release and supply of true-to-type banana cultivars to farmers. We used farmer participatory approaches to understand farmers' preferences for cultivar characteristics, as well as mixed models (i.e., restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction), and additive main effect multiplicative interaction model biplots to dissect and visualize genotype-by-environment patterns. Large fruit, a large bunch, market acceptability of the banana bunch, a sturdy stem, and an attractive appearance of the banana plant were the characteristics that Tanzanian and Ugandan farmers preferred the most. Farmers of both genders were more focused with production-related characteristics, but men valued marketing-related characteristics more while women preferred use-related characteristics. The highly significant effects of both genotype and interaction of the likelihood ratio test indicated the influence of genotype and site heterogeneity in selecting specific and broadly adapted cultivars. N23 had the highest yield at all sites related to adaptability and stability, outperforming the mean genotype-wide yield by 34.2%. N27 (2nd), N7 (3rd), N18 (4th), N4 (5th), N12 (6th), and N13 (7th) in Tanzania, as well as N17 (2nd), N18 (3rd), N2 (4th), N8 (5th), N13 (6th), N12 (7th), N4 (8th), and N24 (9th) in Uganda, had high yield, stability, and adaptability. Lyamungo in Tanzania and Sendusu in Uganda were the best sites for discriminating breeding clones. As a result, these testing locations are suggested as prime examples of locations to test and choose superior genotypes. Furthermore, Pseudocercospora fijiensis, a fungal pathogen, causing black leaf streak (BLS) did not have a significant effect (P > 0.05) on the hybrids' yield, stability, or adaptability. The four released 'Matooke' hybrids (TARIBANs) have the potential to improve the quality of life of millions of people in the East African region and ensure food security because they combine high yield, farmer desired characteristics (including cooking attributes), and host plant resistance to the BLS pathogen. Over 90% of the 'Matooke' cultivars were be true-to-type, and the microsatellites markers used in this study produced repeatable polymorphic bands in 26 'Matooke' and exotic banana cultivars, thus demonstrating their value as a powerful tool for investigating genetic diversity and establishing relationships among 'Matooke' cultivars. This demonstrates genotyping's ability to precisely identify and validate clones.
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| 2. |
- Madalla, Noel, et al.
(författare)
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Farmers' preferences for East African highland cooking banana 'Matooke' hybrids and local cultivars
- 2023
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Ingår i: Agriculture & Food Security. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2048-7010. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundAn understanding of farmers' preferences of new banana cultivars and their characteristics is critical for developing and selecting cultivars that meet consumer needs. Therefore, phenotypic selection in a genetically variable population remains an important aspect of plant breeding.MethodsThe participatory varietal selection approach for preference ranking was used on 31 'Matooke' secondary and primary triploid hybrids and local banana cultivars evaluated between 2016 and 2019 in Uganda and Tanzania to investigate how farmers' preference attributes could help breeders identify superior cultivars. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The qualitative data from farmers' focus group discussions (FGDs) were described using content analysis. The Mann–Whitney U test and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test were used to confirm the difference in farmers' preferences between groups.ResultsFarmers' approaches for defining characteristics were multivariate, and their preferences varied by site and country. Large fruit, a large bunch, market acceptability of the banana bunch, a sturdy stem, and an attractive appearance of the banana plant were the characteristics most preferred by farmers in Tanzania and Uganda. Tanzanian farmers preferred large bunches over other characteristics like bunch marketability and robust stem. Large fruit, drought tolerance, a strong stem, and phenotypic similarity to local cultivars were prioritized by Ugandan farmers. Both men and women farmers were more concerned with production-related characteristics, but the former valued marketing-related characteristics more, while the latter preferred use-related characteristics. Their preferences did not differ statistically, but the relative importance assigned by each group to the selected attributes was different.ConclusionFarmers' varietal preferences are frequently based on some assumed requirements, resulting in cultivar rejection or non-adoption. Therefore, determining the value attributed to each characteristic by various farmer groups is crucial in developing 'Matooke' banana cultivars with desired attributes that will boost the rate of adoption on-farms. Breeding initiatives that establish a system of integrated approaches and rely on thorough diagnosis of both production and consumption characteristics will best serve farmers' diverse preferences. To accomplish this, planning for varietal improvement initiatives at various levels—including internationally, regionally, nationally, and locally—would require a strong participatory structure that is gender inclusive.
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| 3. |
- Madalla, Noel
(författare)
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Farmers traits preferences for improved banana cultivars in Tanzania and Uganda
- 2021
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- An understanding of farmers’ preferences for new banana cultivars and their traits is critical for the development of cultivars that meet consumer needs and for successful adoption. The objective of this review was to evaluate the cultivar traits that influence farmers adoption of improved banana cultivars in Tanzania and Uganda. The study reviewed the literature on the introduction, evaluation, preference, acceptance and rejection of improved banana cultivars in Eastern and Central Africa (ECA), especially in Tanzania and Uganda. A total of 268 papers published from year 1930 to the present were collected using the advanced search databases of ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, ProMusa, Musalit and CGIAR. The results show that new cultivars have adopted both the formal and informal seed systems for introduction in both Uganda and Tanzania, and there has been a huge effort to develop the new cultivars locally through the establishment of local plant breeding programs. The traits farmers consider turned out to be more diverse than the formal understanding of the same traits by researchers. Cultivar preference varied primarily with use, market demand, agro-ecology, local culture and exposure to new cultivars, as well as socio-economic factors. For cooking bananas, farmers preferred sensory attributes (taste, flavor, texture and color). Bunch, hand (fruit cluster) and fruit characteristics plus resemblance with other traditional dessert cultivar was preferred for the dessert bananas, in addition to sensory attributes. The preference for juice, beer or wine cultivars focused on astringency, starch, plant vigor and bunch size. Irrespective of the end use, host plant resistance to pests and pathogens and marketability were important considerations to all types of bananas. Among other things, age, gender, dissemination strategies, extension services and years of farming experience, are the most important factors determining banana cultivars preferences among farmers. However, the gender aspect of banana trait preference was rarely considered in most studies and early maturity, a major focus of crop genetic improvement research, was found to have limited influence on the decision on cultivar use. Given the differences in consumption preferences, genetic composition, and the way genetic makeup interacts with the environment, no single cultivar equally supplies all the attributes needed by farmers. In addition, farmers use different cultivars under diverse ecological conditions, in various cropping systems and under different level of management. However, there is still a need for a participatory plant breeding approach involving farmers that enhances simultaneously production and consumption attributes. Such an approach is likely to promote adoption of hybrids banana cultivars in the region.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Madalla, Noel, et al.
(författare)
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Yield stability of East African highland cooking banana ‘Matooke’ hybrids
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science. - 0003-1062 .- 2327-9788. ; 147, s. 334–348-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- East African banana (Musa sp.) breeding efforts have focused mainly on enhancing ‘Matooke’ productivity through the development of high-yielding, pathogen-resistant cultivars with adequate stability to contribute to regional food security. Before a breeding program can recommend promising cultivars for release, they must pass the sensory screens; be evaluated in the target population environments; and the data analyzed for yield, adaptability, and stability. Twenty-four primary and secondary triploid hybrids [NARITA (N)] derived from ‘Matooke’ bananas, six triploid local ‘Matooke’ cultivars, and one exotic cultivar were evaluated for their yield, adaptability, and stability across the East African region at three highland sites in Uganda’s western and central regions, as well as at three sites in Tanzania’s northeastern and southern highlands regions, from 2016–19. A randomized complete block design with four replicates was used for multisite trials. The mixed-model restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction approach, along with additive main effect multiplicative interaction model biplots, were used to dissect and visualize genotype-byenvironment patterns. Following the likelihood ratio test, both genotype and interaction effects were highly significant, confirming the influence of genotype and site heterogeneity for selecting specific and broadly adapted cultivars. N23 had the greatest yield across all sites associated with adaptability and stability, outperforming the overall mean yield of all genotypes by 34.2%. In Tanzania, N27 (second), N7 (third), N18 (fourth), N4 (fifth), N12 (sixth), and N13 (seventh); and in Uganda, N17 (second), N18 (third), N2 (fourth), N8 (fifth), N13 (sixth), N12 (seventh), N4 (eighth), and N24 (ninth) demonstrated good adaptability and stability, as well as high yield. Furthermore, the fungal pathogen Pseudocercospora fijiensis had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on yield, stability, and adaptability of the hybrids. As a result, they can be introduced into areas where black leaf streak constrains banana production significantly and threatens farmers’ livelihoods. The average site yield potential ranged from 9.7 to 24.3 t⋅ha–1 per year. The best discriminating sites for testing breeding clones were Lyamungo in Tanzania and Sendusu in Uganda. Hence, these testing sites are recommended as ideal examples of locations for selecting superior genotypes.
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