Abstract:
Background Banana production is increasingly under threat due to harsh weather conditions as a result of climate
change and different diseases. As such there is a need for the preservation and the characterization of the banana
cultivar population for the purposes of crop improvement. The identification of collected banana germplasm in Zim
babwe was conducted based on the Inter-transcribed spacer region as well as morphology. The study was con
ducted with the aim of distinguishing one cultivar from another towards genetic conservation as well as banana
improvement.
Results ITS 1 and ITS 4 region targeting primers were used to amplify the DNA from twelve cultivars as well
as sequence. Blast results identified five Musa groups which are Musa balbisiana (BB), Musa ABB, Musa AB hybrid, Musa
acuminata (AAA), and Musa acuminata subsp. Malaccensis (AA). Phylogenetic analysis was done on the sequences
under study and a maximum likelihood tree was generated to determine relationships between the sequences.
Further identification was done using the inflorescence, bract, and male bud and fruit characteristics of each cultivar
complementing the molecular evaluation.
Conclusion Genetic and morphological identification of locally grown bananas was therefore successful. An impor
tant step towards identifying pure lines suitable for breeding.
