Application of Pollen Germination Media on Stigmas during Pollination Increases Seed Set in East African Highland Cooking Bananas (Musa spp.)
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Agronomy
Abstract
Seed set in East African Highland Cooking bananas (EAHBs) is extremely low and therefore
hampers breeding. Pollen–pistil interaction is a key contributing factor. We assessed the effect of
pollen germination media (PGM) on seed set in EAHBs. Five EAHB cultivars were pollinated with
pollen from the wild banana ‘Calcutta 4’. Glucose-based PGM sprayed on freshly emerged stigmas
significantly increased seed set per 100 fruits per bunch. Increases were 73.5% in ‘Enzirabahima’,
39.9% in ‘Mshale’, and 302.4% in ‘Nshonowa’. However, PGM did not increase seed set in the female
sterile ‘Mlelembo’ and ‘Nakitembe’. As larger bunches were more fertile, good field management
practices are also recommended to get more seed to improve breeding efficiency.
Description
Keywords
East African highland cooking bananas, Pollination technique, Seed set, Breeding efficiency
Citation
Waniale, A.; Swennen, R.; Mukasa, S.B.; Tugume, A.K.; Kubiriba, J.; Tushemereirwe,W.K.; Amah, D.; Tumuhimbise, R. Application of Pollen Germination Media on Stigmas during Pollination Increases Seed Set in East African Highland Cooking Bananas (Musa spp.). Agronomy 2021, 11, 1085. https:// doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061085