1National key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology & Sanya Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Xueyuan Road 4, Longhua District, Sanya/Haikou 571101, China 2Hainan Key Laboratory for Protection and Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, Hainan Institute for Tropical Agricultural Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Xueyuan Road 4, Longhua District, Haikou 571101, China 3Key Laboratory of Tropical Fruit Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Hainan Province for Postharvest Physiology and Technology of Tropical Horticultural Products, South Subtropical Crop Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Xiuhu Road 1, Mazhang District, Zhanjiang 524000, China 4National Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding, Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Pengfei Road 7, Dapengxin District, Shenzhen 518000, China 5Yunnan Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Agricultural Transboundary Pests, Agricultural Environment and Resources Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing Road 2238, Kunming 650205, China 6Bioversity International, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing Road 2238, Kunming 650205, China 7Bioversity International, Parc Scientifique Agropolis II, Montpellier 34397, Cedex 5, France *Corresponding author. E-mail: wangwei@itbb.org.cn,m.rouard@cgiar.org,xiejianghui@itbb.org.cn,liujuhua@itbb.org.cn †Hongxia Miao,Jianbin Zhang and Yunke Zheng,Caihong Jia,Yulin Hu contributed equally to the study.
Received: 24 Sep 2024 Accepted: 03 Feb 2025 Published online: 12 Feb 2025
Abstract
Bananas (Musa spp.) are among the top-produced food crops, serving as a primary source of food for millions of people. Cultivated bananas originated primarily from the wild diploid species Musa acuminata (A genome) and Musa balbisiana (B genome) through intra- and interspecific hybridization and selections via somatic variation. Following the publication of complete A- and B-genome sequences, prospects for complementary studies on S- and T-genome traits, key gene identification for yield, ripening, quality, and stress resistance, and advances in molecular breeding have significantly expanded. In this review, latest research progress on banana A, B, S, and T genomes is briefly summarized, highlighting key advances in banana cytoplasmic inheritance, flower and fruit development, sterility, and parthenocarpy, postharvest ripening and quality regulation, and biotic and abiotic stress resistance associated with desirable economic traits. We provide updates on transgenic, gene editing, and molecular breeding. We also explore future directions for banana breeding and genetic improvement.
, Mathieu Rouard7 ,
