Establishment of a Standard Micropropagation Protocol for the Production of Uniform Planting Material in Musa Laterita (Section: Rhodochlamys).

Musa laterita is one of the dwarf statured, ornamental Musa species, which belongs to the section Rhodochlamys. It is immune to Sigatoka leaf spot and Fusarium wilt diseases and also exhibits tolerance to moisture deficit stress. Among the fungal diseases, fusarium wilt especially race TR4 is highly threatening the banana industry worldwide and hence the TR4 resistant gene should be identified on priority for use in banana improvement programmes. Though, it is a wild seeded type which can be easily propagated through seeds, the off springs are not genetically uniform making it unfit for any molecular analysis. In vitro micro propagation of ornamental banana including Musa laterita is limited due to poor multiplication rates compared to commercial cultivars. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to establish an in vitro protocol for plant regeneration from shoot tip explants. Efforts were made to enhance the multiplication efficiency using MS media fortified with BAP, TDZ, NAA, IAA and IBA in different combinations so as to obtain maximum numbers of plantlets in minimum duration. The plantlets produced would be used to study the molecular mechanism behind Fusarium wilt resistance (TR4), through transcriptome analysis.

Fusarium Wilt of Bananas: A Review of Agro-Environmental Factors in the Venezuelan Production System Affecting Its Development

Bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) are among the main staple of millions of people in the world. Among the main Musaceae diseases that may limit its productivity, Fusarium wilt (FW), caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), has been threatening the banana industry for many years, with devastating effects on the economy of many tropical countries, becoming the leading cause of changes in the land use on severely affected areas. In this article, an updated, reflective and practical review of the current state of knowledge concerning the main agro-environmental factors that may affect disease progression and dissemination of this dangerous pathogen has been carried out, focusing on the Venezuelan Musaceae production systems. Environmental variables together with soil management and sustainable cultural practices are important factors affecting FW incidence and severity, excluding that the widespread dissemination of Foc, especially of its highly virulent tropical race 4 (TR4), is mainly caused by human activities. Additionally, risk analysis and climatic suitability maps for Foc TR4 in Venezuela have been developed. Although currently there are no effective management solutions available for FW control, this perspective provides an overview on the influence that environmental and agricultural variables would have on FW incidence and severity, giving some insight into management factors that can contribute to reducing its detrimental effects on banana production and how climate change may affect its development.

Era Digitalisasi Media Pemasaran Online Pengembangan Usaha Mikro Kecil

This study aims to determine strategies in increasing student learning motivation to maintain the The era of digitalization brings a wind of change, many polemics and pros and cons to the development of all sectors related to digital is no exception to the business sector and the economy. In running a business, marketing is the spearhead in penetrating the market, applies whether it is a large company or a company with micro, small or medium scale. Micro enterprises still face classic problems that have often occurred regarding capital limitations and still very simple marketing patterns that apply. The research method used in this research is a descriptive qualitative research method that is a research that produces descriptive data (depictions) in the form of written and oral facts of observed behavior, in a situation that takes place fairly and scientifically and not in controlled conditions.The banana industry and trade of sale "AA" conducts marketing efforts using social media. This is done to introduce more widely banana sale products "AA" and increase awareness of its efforts to the audience, a form of digital marketing that has been used by throwing messages in the form of images, audio-visuals, and text messages precisely through social media networks facebook and instagram. Banana sale company “AA” has made efforts to increase its marketing efforts by utilizing social media networks facebook and instagram. This is done so that the company is able to compete in competition in the digital age and a form of awareness of its business that survives as a partnership in investing. Abstrak Era digitalisasi membawa angin perubahan, banyak polemik serta pro dan kontra terhadap perkembangan semua sektor yang berkaitan dengan digital tidak terkecuali sektor bisnis dan ekonomi. Dalam menjalankan bisnis, marketing merupakan ujung tombak dalam melalukan penetrasi pasar, hal ini berlaku baik itu perusahaan besar ataupun perusahaan dengan skala mikro, kecil ataupun menengah. Usaha mikro masih menghadapi permasalahan klasik yang selama ini kerap terjadi perihal keterbatasan modal dan masih sangat sederhananya pola pemasaran yang terapkan. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam riset ini adalah metode penelitian kualitatif deskriptif yaitu suatu penelitian yang menghasilkan data yang bersifat deskriptif (penggambaran) berupa fakta-fakta yang tertulis maupun lisan dari perilaku yang dicermati, dalam keadaaan yang berlangsung secara wajar dan ilmiah dan bukan dalam kondisi yang terkendali. Industri dan perdagangan sale pisang “AA” melakukan upaya pemasaran dengan menggunakan media sosial. Hal ini dilakukan untuk mengenalkan lebih luas produk sale pisang “AA” dan meningkatkan awareness usahanya kepada khalayak, bentuk pemasaran digital yang telah digunakan dengan cara melempar pesan dalam bentuk gambar, audio-visual, maupun pesan text dengan tepat melalui jaringan media sosial facebook dan instagram. Perusahaan sale pisang “AA” telah melakukan upaya peningkatan pemasaran usahanya dengan menfaatkan jaringan media sosial facebook dan instagram. Hal ini dilakukan agar perusahaan tersebut mampu bersaing dalam persaingan di era digital dan bentuk awareness terhadap usahanya yang survive yang layak sebagai patnership dalam berinvestasi.

Banana bunchy top virus (bunchy top of banana).

BBTV is the most serious virus disease of bananas and plantains. It occurs in Africa, Asia, Australia and South Pacific islands. The virus is transmitted in a persistent, circulative, non-propagative manner by the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa, which has worldwide distribution. The virus is also spread through infected planting material. All banana cultivars are thought to be susceptible, with no known sources of resistance. The typical symptoms of bunchy top of banana are very distinctive and readily distinguished from those caused by other viruses of banana. Infected plants exhibit a rosetted or 'bunchy top' appearance. Once infected, plants do not recover. The disease is a major constraint to production in many areas where it occurs. Devastating epidemics occurred early in the twentieth century in Fiji and Australia. In the 1920s, the disease had a dramatic economic effect on the banana industry in parts of Australia (Dale, 1987). More recently, BBTV has been decimating the banana industry in Pakistan (Jones, 1994) and in sub-Saharan Africa, BBTV was the main contributor to a reduction in banana bunch production by up to 70-90% in disease affected areas (Kumar et al., 2015). BBTV is listed by ISSG as one of the world's 100 worst invasive alien species.

Overexpression of MpbHLH Transcription Factor, An Encoding ICE-Like Protein, Enhances Foc TR4-Resistance of Cavendish Banana

Background: Fusarium wilt is a worldwide problem that restrains the development of banana industry. Isolation and identification of resistance genes is not only significance for the selection of disease resistant varieties, but also important for banana molecular breeding. Results: In this study, an ICE1-like transcription factor containing bHLH domain was cloned from Dajiao (Musa spp. ABB group) and named MpbHLH. We found that overexpression of MpbHLH in Cavendish banana (Musa spp. AAA group) could significantly enhance Fusarium wilt resistance which is caused by Foc TR4. Transcriptomics and proteomic analysis showed that phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POD) were highly expressed in transgenic plants. Physiological experiments further revealed that transgenic plants, especially their roots, had high POD activity. Conclusions: Overexpression of MpbHLH up-regulates the phenylpropanoid pathway-related genes and POD-associated genes in transgenic Cavendish banana. These changes may eventually lead to the improvement of disease resistance.

Water Footprint Assessment of Thai Banana Production

The aim of this research was to assess the water footprint level of Thai banana production. Firstly, the water consumption inventory of banana production was developed. The water consumptions in the banana farms and a case study of banana industry were collected based on the inventory. The results showed that the water consumption of banana plantation was 842.02 m3 including 443.50 m3 of green water, 398.52 m3 of blue water and not found grey water. Moreover, 1638.59 m3/rai was found in the one rai of banana plantation consisted of 863.06 m3/rai of green water and 775.53 m3/rai of blue water. From the finding of this study, the reduction approach of water footprint for banana production should be the reduction of watering the plant in the process of banana growing.

Analysis of the chain of the banana industry of Ecuador and the European market

Bananas are among the four main crops in the world, including wheat, rice, and corn. It is the most exported fresh fruit in the world in terms of volume and value. The European Union (EU) is the largest banana importer globally with an estimated volume share of 33%. Ecuador is the top exporter since it is responsible for one-quarter of the world banana exportation. It represents 22% of total world exports, 27% of total agricultural exports in the country and 8% of the value of all exports (including oil). The present work analyzed the chain of the banana industry of Ecuador and its position in the EU market. A non-experimental empirical method with a quantitative and qualitative approach was used supported by scholarly literature and secondary research data collection. Results obtained show that the main countries destination shipped 87.8 % of total bananas exported from Ecuador in the period of 2007 – 2017. The largest importer of Ecuadorian banana is the European Union (28.9%). In Ecuador, approximately 78% of the banana producers are small companies, by adding the medium ones 95.6% is reached. Thus, the production of bananas in the country is mainly based on the family economy. In 2019, the official banana box price for producers in Ecuador is USD 6.30. In the EU market, it can reach over USD 18.00. It suggested an unfair payment to small and medium producers. JEL CODE: Q13, M16, M21

Unique Secreted in Xylem Genes in Banana-Infecting Endophytic Fusarium Oxysporum

Members of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex include pathogenic and non-pathogenic isolates and infect a broad range of plant species. F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) causes the destructive Fusarium wilt of banana, and the recently emerged Foc tropical race 4 strain threatens the global banana industry. Secreted in xylem (SIX) genes encode for F. oxysporum effector proteins that are associated with virulence in pathogenic F. oxysporum, however they have rarely been reported from non-pathogenic F. oxysporum isolates. Our recent survey of asymptomatic banana plants grown in Foc-infested fields in Queensland and northern NSW revealed that diverse Fusarium spp, including F. oxysporum, reside in the plant roots and pseudostem without causing obvious damage to the plant. Intriguingly, we amplified SIX genes from several of the putative endophytic F. oxysporum isolates identified in the survey and found that they differ in their profile to known Foc SIX genes. To study the role of the endophytic F. oxysporum isolates in planta and the biological function of their SIX genes in more detail, we will re-inoculate cultivated and wild diploid banana lines with the endophytic F. oxysporum strains under glasshouse conditions to assess if they are non-pathogenic on banana. Secondly, we will determine whether the endophytic F. oxysporum SIX genes are expressed in planta and/or in vitro and look at the transcriptome changes occurring in the host following infection. Finally, endophytic F. oxysporum strains transformed with GFP will be used to investigate the extent of fungal colonisation in the plant.