WORK PACKAGE 1 TECHNICAL REPORT FOR THE PROJECT OF BANANA FOR “IMPROVEMENT 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 of Banana for Smallholder Farmers in the Great Lakes Region of Africa”. WP1 is “Improvement 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.
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.
WP1.-NARO.EABBP-BMGF-Progress-Technical-report-April-2017.approved.docx