Introgression of Plantain Fruit Parthenocarpy (pfp) Genes in Land Races of Plantain (Musa spp.).

Introgression of Plantain Fruit Parthenocarpy (pfp) Genes in Land Races of Plantain (Musa spp.)
Introgression of Plantain Fruit Parthenocarpy (pfp)
Genes in Land Races of Plantain (Musa spp.)
1Okolie, Henry and *2Orluchukwu, Joseph A.
1Department of Crop Science and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State,
Nigeria
2Department of Crop and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Choba Port
Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Trials were conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm of Rivers State University of Science
and Technology, Port Harcourt, to investigate the transfer and effects of parthenocarpy gene on
ploidy and bunch traits of plantain and banana hybrids using five different banana and plantain
clones with each serving differently as a male and female parent that gave a total of 10 crosses.
The ten crosses were laid out in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three
times. The Experimental materials consisted of three plantain cultivarsS: Agbagba, ObinaiEwai
and UST Px/02/01; and two banana clones: Calcutta 4 and Yangambi (km5). The potential for
indirect marker- assisted election through the utilization of predictive multiple regression
equations, heritability (h2
) and repeatability (R) in the selection of parthenocarpy progenies was
tested. In all viable crosses between ObinaiEwai and Calcutta 4, one of these pfp genes
segregates in euploid hybrid progenies resulting in the production of parthenocarpy and non-
parthenocarpy progenies. Linear correlation and regression analysis showed that bunch weight,
fruit size, bunch hand and fruit number were positively influenced by each ploidy increases and
change of recessive to dominant in pfp genes alleles. Although ploidy increase and pfp allele
substitution accounted for more than 50 per cent of the Heritability(h) value for the afore-
mentioned traits, other genetic factors (pleiotropic) also affect the manifestation of these traits.
This implies that ploidy and the effect of allele substitution did not explain all the genetic variation
for bunch and fruit traits. This work has proved the use of indirect marker assisted selection which
is cheap and reliable for the selection of the F1 2n and 4n parthenocarpy progenies which would
be used for the production of superior secondary 3x progenies.
Keywords: Progenies, Heritability,Repeatability, Linear correlation and regression analysis, Plantain fruit parthenocarpy
genes (pfp)
INTRODUCTION
World population current growth rate of 1.2% will ultimately
produce 9-10 billion people by 2050 (FAO 2014). So, there
is a great need to combat possible visible and hidden
hunger through the crop improvement and large-scale
cultivation of easy growing, low labour and capital
demanding, high calorie and nutritious food crops like
plantains and bananas (FAO, 2014). In order to improve
banana/plantain production, many agronomic approaches
have been investigated/developed, like application of
manure and fertilizer (Aba and Baiyeri, 2018) and
improved in-situ mulch rows (Orluchukwu and Okolie,
2019). But genetic improvement appears to give more
lasting and impressive results. The main objective for the
genetic improvement of banana is to breed sterile triploid
hybrids through the recombination of fertile cultivars and
species that meet farmers’ needs and consumers’
demands (Adheka et al.,2018). Musa, a plant genus of
extraordinary significance to human societies, produces
the fourth most important food in the world today (after rice,
*Corresponding Author: Orluchukwu, Joseph A.;
Department of Crop and Soil Science, Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323,
Choba Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Email: Josephorluchukwu@yahoo.com
Co-Author Email: storif.ho@gmail.com
International Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science
Vol. 7(2), pp. 756-762, July, 2020. © www.premierpublishers.org, ISSN: 2167-0449
Research Article

Okolie and Orluchukwu 757
wheat, and maize). An in-depth study of nutrients in
plantain was carried out by scholars with the following
results in nutrient value and percent recommended daily
allowances (RDA); energy 122kcal, 6%; carbohydrate
31.89g, 24.5%; protein 1.30g, 2%; total fat 0.37g, 2%;
cholesterol mg, 0%; dietary fire 2.30g, 6%; folates 22μg,
5.5%; niacin 0.686mg, 4%; pyridoxine 0.299mg, 23%;
Riboflavin 0.054mg, 4%; vitamin A 1127 iu, 37.5%; vitamin
C 18.4mg, 31%; vitamin E 0.14mg, 1%; vitamin K 0.7 g,
1%; sodium 4mg, < 1%; potassium 499mg, 10.6%; calcium
3mg, < 0.5%; iron 0.60mg, 7.5%; magnesium 37mg, 9%;
phosphorus 34mg, 5% and zinc 0.14mg, 1%.(USDA
2017). Plantain meal is an important food source and
easily digestible The Musa cultivars (M. Sapientum L.
(banana) and M. Paradisiaca L. (plantain) evolved from
their wild diploid species interspecific crosses between
Musa acuminate colla with genome (AA) and M. balbisiana
colla with genome (BB) and dispersed from their south
east Asian center of origin (Adheka et al., 2018). Recurrent
somatic mutation followed by human selection for their
tasty fruit led to great phenotypic diversity amongst
banana and plantain landraces in the humid low lands of
west Africa and amongst beer and cooking bananas in the
high lands of East Africa (Adheka et al., 2018). Plantains
are plants of tropical humid lowlands and are mostly grown
between 300N and South of equator. It can be grown on a
wide range of soils provided it is deep, well drained with
adequate fertility and moisture. Bananas are giant tree like
herbs of 2 – 9-meter-tall with underground stem. The
pseudo stem is composed of leaf sheaths, terminal crown
of leaves through which the inflorescence emerges 7 – 9
months after planting, having pushed up from the base of
the pseudo stem. Bananas and plantains are the most
important tropical fruit crops. Throughout the humid
tropical zones of Africa, plantain is one of the most
important sources of carbohydrate (Akinyami et al., 2010).
Unlike the sweet bananas, plantains can be fried, baked,
boiled or roasted and consumed alone or together with
other food (Baruwa et al., 2011). Dessert bananas are the
most important, the largest and most consumed tropical
horticultural fruit (Adheka et al., 2018). Plantains and
Bananas big production volume and non-seasonal fruiting
habit make them important item of domestic trade. Seed
production in plantains either through amphimis or
apomixes is relatively difficult which is why virtually all
cultivars of plantains currently being grown commercially
or for home consumption have been selections from
naturally occurring hybrids. This is because genetically
plantains have 33 chromosomes (2n = 3x). (Oselebe et al.,
2006). These tropical genotypes are virtually or completely
sterile and develop their fruit by vegetative parthenocarpy
owing to the production of little or no pollen and a natural
female sterility as a result of uneven chromosome sets.
Plantains develop parthenocarpy fruits which make them
both acceptable and palatable for consumption but most
high yielding and disease resistant hybrids have Calcutta
4 accession background which is non parthenocarpy. Oritz
and Vuylsteke (1992) elucidated that there is at least three
independent but complimentary dominant genes that
control vegetative parthenocarpy in Musa. For example,
Calcutta 4 genotype for parthenocarpy is p1/p1, P2/P2,
P3/P3. It is seeded and fleshless because one of the
complimentary parthenocarpy genes p1/p1 is recessive. In
all viable crosses between ObinaiEwai and Calcutta 4, one
of these genes P1 segregates in euploid hybrid progenies
resulting in the production of parthenocarpy and non-
parthenocarpy progenies. Linear correlation and
regression analysis showed that bunch weight, fruit size,
bunch hand and fruit number were positively influenced by
each ploidy increases and change of recessive to
dominant alleles at the P1 locus. Although ploidy increase
and allele substitution at the P1 locus accounted for more
than 50 per cent of the Heritability (h) value for the afore-
mentioned traits, other genetic factors (pleiotropic) also
affect the manifestation of these traits (Oritz and
Vuylsteke, 1992). But Calcutta 4 is non Parthenocarpy and
has the tendency of transferring this trait. Therefore, hybrid
progenies from this cross are either Parthenocarpy or non-
Parthenocarpy and have different levels of ploidy, sigatoka
resistance, parthenocarpy and yields. Indirect marker
assisted selection is very useful when an experimental
accession genome has not been Molecular marked or the
genome information is not readily available. The aim of this
research is to use chromosomal count, morphological
evaluation and Heritability (h2) analysis to select progenies
that have good agronomic and yield qualities that would be
used to improve Musa gene pool or Musa domestic
production.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental site
The field trials were conducted at the Teaching and
Research farm of Rivers State University of Science and
Technology located in the humid forest zone of Southern
Nigeria. The soil is an acidic sandy loam which occurs
over sedimentary rock. The acidic level is 4.8, it is
deficient in macro nutrients N2 -, Mg-, K-, but high in
phosphorus, which is why there was need to improve the
soil nutrient status. The University is on latitude 4
o
31’to
5
o
N and longitude 6
o
41’to 7
o
E, with an average
temperature of 27
o
C, relative humidity of 78% and
average rainfall that ranges from 2500 –4000mm
(Nwankwo and Ehirim, 2010).
Experimental Materials:
The experimental materials were made of the following:
(i) Calcutta 4 (C4), a wild diploid dessert banana with AA
genome.
(ii) Yangambi (KM5), a wild diploid dessert banana with
AA genome.
(iii) Agbagba, a land race false Horn triploid plantain with
AAB genome.

Int. J. Plant Breed. Crop Sci. 758
(iv) ObinaiEwai, a land race false Horn triploid plantain
with AAB genome.
(v) Unknown plantain (a medium triploid and non-
parthenocarpy AAB plantain) and UST/Px/02/01, are
medium triploid plantain developed at Rivers State
University, Training & Research Farm Port Harcourt.
The Experimental Design: The design of the
experimental field was a replicated Randomized complete
Block design (RCBD). Ten stands of each of the four
species were planted on three rows at 2m x3m and
replicated three times that gave 60 stands (mats) for each
species and a total population of 180 stands that covered
33m x 15m area of land.
Field Establishment: The suckers were trimmed to size
30 to 40cm high with at least one viable adventitious bud
and roots. The peeling was to get rid of nematodes and
banana rhizome borers. Holes of size 30 x 30 x 30cm were
dug along the 2 m wide planting rows and 3m inter rows.
This gave the normal population density of about 1667
plants per hectare.
Measurements of growth and yield parameters
To assess vegetative and yield characteristics, the plants
were sampled at random. Those measurements consisted
of phenotypic vegetative descriptors like plant height,
pseudo stem perimeter at 100 cm above ground, number
of functional leaves at harvest. Yield parameters
measured include, bunch weight, number of hands and
fruits per bunch, length and diameter of fingers of the first
hand, middle hand and last hand were assessed. The
measured values were obtained according to the
methodological proposal contained in catalogs of standard
morphological descriptors for banana (IPGRI-
INIBAP/CIRAD, 1996). Crosses were done during morning
hours with a ladder between 7:00 to 9:00 am to avoid the
anthers dehydration. The inflorescences emergence was
ploidy controlled with the diploids (Calcutta 4 and
Yangambi) emerging first before the triploids. Ploidy levels
of the progenies were determined by macerating root tips
and fixing in aceto-orcein solution as described by Bakry
and Shepherd (2008), after which the chromosomes were
counted. Ploidy identification was also enhanced by
diligent examination of the progenies morphologies using
musa descriptors as partly discussed by Vilhena et al,
(2019)
Data Analysis
The results of the different parameters were subjected to
combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the General
linear model (GLM), while the differences among the
treatment means were separated using least significant
difference (LSD) at 5% level. All data analyses were
carried out according to the procedure of SAS (1999).
Yield components (bunch weight, number of hands per
bunch, number of fingers per bunch and finger sizes) were
calculated using Heritability and Repeatability. Broad
sense heritability (H2) and Repeatibility (R) will be based
on the ratios of the variance components (Becker, 1975)
as used by Rodomiro and Vuylsteke (1995).
RESULTS
Growth Parameters
In Table 1, the plant height at flowering for ObinaiEwai and
Agbagba (2.68m and 2.61m respectively) were
significantly higher than other clones. The two banana
clones had a lower plant height, km5 (1.95m) followed by
the least Calcutta4 (1.88m). On number of leaves at
flowering, Obinai’Ewai, a plantain cultivar produced the
highest number of leaves at flowering (9.65 leaves).
Agbagba (8.75 leaves) produced significantly more leaves
at flowering than the two banana clones, Yangambi (7.17
leaves) and Calcutta4 (6.00 leaves). Higher number of
leaves were retained in Unknown plantain clone (2.62).
This was followed by ObinaiEwai (2.53 leaves) which had
the highest number of leaves at flowering (Table 1).
Agbagba cultivar retained 2.08 leaves at harvest and was
significantly higher than that of the banana clones Calcutta
4 (1.67 leaves) and km5 (1.47 leaves) which were not
significantly different from each other. The number of
suckers at harvest showed that Yangambi (km5) a banana
clone significantly produced the largest number of suckers
at harvest (7.52 suckers). This was followed by
ObinaiEwai (4.12 suckers) and Unknown plantain (3.05
suckers). Agbagba (2.73 suckers), Calcutta 4 (2.72
suckers) and UST/px/02/01 (2.55 suckers) were not
significantly different from each other, although the latter
produced the least number of suckers at harvest.
Yield Parameters
Table 2 showed the yield components of the experimental
clones. On the bunch weight there was a significant
difference on yield with ObinaiEwai producing the highest
bunch weight (5.10kg). This was significantly higher than
Agbagba cultivar (4.48kg), Yangambi (2.4kg), Calcutta (4

Table 1: Agronomic performance of the experimental clones
Number of
mat
Clones Plant height at
flowering
Number of leaves
at flowering
Number of leaves at
harvest
Number of
suckers
60 ObinaiEwai 2.68a 9.65a 2.53a 4.12b
60 Agbagba 2.61a 8.75b 2.08b 2.73d
60 Unknown plantain 2.15a 9.4a 2.62a 3.05c
60 Yangambi 1.95cd 7.17c 1.47c 7.52a
60 Calcutta 4 1.88d 6.00d 1.67c 2.72d
60 UST/Px/02/01 1.99c 6.00d 1.80bc 2.55d
Means within the same row with different superscript differ significantly (p<0.05).
Table 2: Yield components of the experimental clones
Number
of mats
Clones Bunch
weight
Number
of
hands
Number
of
fingers
Length
of 1st
fingers
(cm)
Length
of mid
fingers
Length
of last
finger
(cm)
Circumference
at first finger
(cm2)
Circumference
at mid finger
(cm2)
Circumference
at last finger
(cm2
)
60 ObinaiEwai 5.10a 7.42a 48.05d 18.63b 17.73b 10.00b 11.97a 10.8d 9.58b
60 Agbagba 4.48b 6.35b 34.70e 22.54a 19.51a 12,23a 11.84a 11.15a 12.23a
60 Unknown 4.15c 5.57c 64.33a 11.78c 8.32c 7.78c 10.81b 10.00b 7.80c
60 Yangambi 2.40d 5.00d 53.95c 8.00d 7.00d 6.63c 7.7c 7.70c 6.63+c
60 Calcutta 4 0.56e 5.63c 58.57b 4.60e 3.25e 2.80d 4.21d 3.20d 2.80d
60 UST/PX/12/01 0.40e 5.03d 60.87b 4.15e 3.07e 2.66d 4.82d 3.34d 2.66d
Means within the same row with different superscript differ significantly (p<0.05).
0.56kg) and UST/px/02/01 (0.40kg). ObinaiEwai (7.45
hands) had the highest mean number of hands and
showed a significant difference among the cultivars
followed by Agbagba (6.35 hands). There was no
significant difference between Calcutta 4(5.63 hands) and
unknown plantain (5.57 hands). Yangambi had the least
(5.00 hands) number of hands per bunch at harvest. The
number of fingers per bunch varied significantly amongst
the different cultivars.
The unknown plantain (64.33 fingers) had the highest
number of fingers. UST Px/02/01 (60.87 fingers) did not
significantly vary with Calcutta 4 (58.57 fingers). But km5
(53.95 fingers) had a higher number of fingers than
ObinaiEwai (48.05 fingers) while Calcutta had the least
number of fingers per bunch. Agbagba cultivar produced
the highest first finger length of 22.54cm which was
significantly followed by ObinaiEwai (18.63cm).Unknown
plantain clone first finger length of 11.78cm was also
significantly higher than that of Yangambi (8.00cm) while
Calcutta 4 (4.6 cm) first finger length did not significantly
vary from UST Px/02/01(4.15cm) which was the least. The
crop cycle impact was positive. The length of mid-finger
(cm) showed that there was a significant difference
amongst the clones. The trend followed exactly as that of
the first finger length. Agbagba (19.5cm) was the longest
followed by ObinaiEwai (17.73cm) while Calcutta 4
(3.25cm) did not significantly vary from UST Px/02/01
(3.07cm) which was also the least. The table also showed
the mean lengths of the last fingers of the clones just like
the length of the first and mid fingers, the same trend
followed and Agbagba cultivar (12.23) was also
significantly higher and followed by ObinaiEwai (10.00cm).
Unknown plantain (7.78cm) and km5 (6.63cm) had no
statistical difference but were significantly higher than
Calcutta 4 (2.8cm) and UST Px/02/01 (2.61cm) which
were statistically the same. ObinaiEwai (11.97cm2) and
Agbagba (11.84 cm2) cultivars first finger circumference
were not significantly different but higher than that of other
cultivars while unknown plantain (10.81cm) was higher
than Yangambi (7.7cm2). Calcutta 4 and UST/px/02/01
were not statistically different. On the performance of the
clones in terms of the mid-finger circumference. Agbagba
(11.15cm2) and ObinaiEwai (10.80cm2) are significantly
the same but higher than other clones. Unknown plantain
record was higher (10.00cm2) than Yangambi (7.70cm2)
but UST/px/02/01 (3.34cm2) and Calcutta 4 (3.20cm2)
were the least. The Agbagba (12.23cm2) last finger
circumference was statistically significant than the rest of
the clones followed by ObinaiEwai (9.58cm2). Unknown
plantain (7.80cm2) and Yangambi (6.63cm2) are
significantly different from Calcutta 4 (2.80cm2) and clone
5 (2.60cm2).
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
Table 3 showed the result of regression analysis of
individual variables against bunch weight. The significant
differences observed indicated parameters with significant
effect on bunch yield at various  level of significance
(0.05, 0.01 and 0.001). From the result, plant height at
flowering (0.0002xxx) is a good predictor of bunch yield as
well as the number of leaves at flowering (0.0001xxx).
Bunch number of fingers 0.0681 and leaves number
standing at harvest (0.7624) are not good predictors of
bunch weight.

Table 3: Regression analysis on individual variables in
crop plant.
Constant B Significant
plant height of flowering 1.40883 0.0002xxx
number of bunch fingers -0.01443 0.0681Ns
leaves at flowering 0.40546 <.0001xxx
leaves standing at harvest 0.03535 0.7624NS
Microsporogenesis determines the ploidy of progenies
from inter-ploidy crosses in Musa. Based on karyotype
evaluation of the progenies, progeny 1 which came
through ObinaiEwai x Calcutta 4 cross was a diploid. It had
11 pairs of 2 sets of chromosomes which gave a total of
22 chromosomes per cell (11x=2n =22).
Progeny 2 which also came through the above cross was
a tetraploid. It had 11 pairs of 4 sets of chromosomes
which gave a total of 44 chromosomes per cell
(11x=4n=44). Progeny 3 which came through Yangambi
(km5) x Calcutta 4 was a diploid (11x=2n =22) just like
progeny 4 that came from Calcutta 4 x Calcutta 4 cross.
Karyotype status and phenotypic characteristics of the
progenies are shown on Tables 4 and 5 respectively.
Table 4: Field performance of the progenies plant crop
Plant characteristics ObinaiEwai
x Calcutta 4
ObinaiEwai
x Calcutta 4
Km5 x
Calcutta`
Calcutta 4 x
Calcutta 4
Progeny 1 Progeny 2 Progeny 3 Progeny 4
1 Plant Height at flowering (cm) 200 215 188 180
2 Girth at 30cm 34 41 27 30
3 Number of days to shooting 220 285 210 240
4 Number of days from hooting to flowering 11 20 12 12
5 Number of days from flowering to harvest 90 97 92 92
6 Number of sucker 3 3 4 2
7 Bunch weight (kg) 1.45 5.0 0.65 0.55
8 Number of Hands 8 6 6 7
9 Number of fingers 78 60 43 38
10 Length of first hand finger (cm) 4.1 11.7 8.00 4.6
11 Circumference of first hand finger (cm2) 4.8 10.8 7.6 4.2
Table 5: Ploidy levels of the progenies.
Cross Progeny
number
Ploidy level
ObinaiEwai x Calcutta 4 1 2n (x = 11:2n = 22)
ObinaiEwai x Calcutta 4 2 4n (x = 11:4n = 44)
Yangambi x Calcutta 4 3 2n (x = 11: 2n = 22)
Calcutta 4 x Calcutta 4 4 2n (x = 11: 2n = 22)
Phenotypically, progeny 1 (ObinaiEwai x Calcutta 4) Table
6 had closely arranged leaves that are held upright. It was
taller (210cm) than progenies of diploid crosses (km5 x
Calcutta 4) and (Calcutta 4 x Calcutta 4). Its yield
components were shown on the (Table 6).
The second progeny of this cross (progeny 2) had leaves
with deep green colour, very broad and well spread which
is typical of the plantains. Girth at 30cm was 41cm and was
taller than the other progenies. Progeny 3 which came
through (Yangambi x Calcutta 4) cross had fairly green but
slightly dropping leaves. The crop plant yield and other
phenotypic qualities were shown on Table 6 the progeny 4
was a replica of Calcutta 4 clone.
Table 6: Field performance of the progenies plant crop
Plant characteristics Obinaiewai x
Calcutta 4
Obinaiewai
x Calcutta 4
Km x
calcutta`4
Calcutta 4 x
Calcutta 4
Progeny 1 Progeny 2 Progeny 3 Progeny 4
1 Plant Height at flowering (cm) 200 215 188 180
2 Girth at 30cm 34 41 27 30
3 Number of days to shooting 220 285 210 240
4 Number of days from hooting to flowering 11 20 12 12
5 Number of days from flowering to harvest 90 97 92 92
6 Number of sucker 3 3 4 2
7 Bunch weight (kg) 1.45 3.60 1.00 0.55
8 Number of Hands 8 6 6 7
9 Number of fingers 78 60 43 38
10 Length of first hand finger (cm) 4.1 11.7 8.00 4.6
11 Circumference of first hand finger (cm2) 4.8 10.8 7.6 4.2

Table 7: Estimates of variance components of cropping seasons (2
c) genotypes (2
G), genotype by cropping
seasons (2
GC) and Broad heritability (h2
) for bunch and fruit traits of the ObinaiEwai-Calcutta 4 cross.
TRAIT 2c 2G 2GC H2(%)
Bunch weight 2.10x 10.20xxx 3.50xx 86.00
Hands per bunch 5.52xx 2.32xxx 520.86 72.40
Fingers per bunch 3280.80xx 1200.00xxx 806.20 82.00
Fruit length 1.15x 26.30xxx 3.00xxx 92
Fruit circumference 3.38x 9.20xxx 1.10xx 92
Table 7 showed the estimates of variance components,
their statistical significance, heritability and repeatability
values. There were significant differences (P<0.001)
between the hybrids for all the traits. The cropping season
(2c) significantly affected bunch weight (P<0.05) number
of hands (P<0.01), number of fruits per bunch (P<0.05)
and length of fruit (P<0.05) .The genetic effect (2G) was
significant at (P<0.001) for bunch weight, fruits per bunch
(P<0.001), hands per bunch ,length of fruit and
circumference of fruit ( P<0.001). The genotypes by
cropping season (2GC) interaction was significant
(P<0.01) for bunch weight length and circumference. The
values of h2 was high for these traits because of large and
significant differences among genotypes. Actually, the
gene P1 significantly affected ploidy increase, fruit
development in terms of fruit weight and size in both of the
F1 progenies as a result of allele substitution in pfp genes.
DISCUSSION
This research has shown that agronomic components of
different Musa clones depend on their ploidy level with the
triploids scoring higher in plant height, number of leaves at
flowering and harvest and in bunch weight owing to their
increased cell size (Adheka et al., 2018). Bunch weights
were found to be independent of number of hands but
increases with increase in finger number and sizes
(Orluchukwu and Okolie, 2019). The higher bunch weight
of the triploids was attributed to fruit size, and not the
number of fruits which was higher in the diploids (Oselebe
et al,.2006). Seed production is generally difficult in
triploids owing to chromosomal imbalance and high in wild
diploids e.g. Calcutta 4 especially if there are enough fertile
and compatible pollens. Calcutta 4 which served mainly as
male parent is non parthenocarpy and has the tendency of
transferring this trait to its offspring(s). Heritability (h2)
calculations coupled with examination of squashed ripped
fruits were used to evaluate the progeny(s) that has this
parthenocarpy gene while morphological evaluation and
chromosomal count were used to ascertain the progenies
ploidy level. Progeny 2 was found to be tetraploid and
parthenocarpic thus combining high yield qualities of
ObinaiEwai (the female triploid parent) and the sigatoka
disease resistance qualities of Calcutta 4 (the male
parent). This assertion was also based on linear
correlation and regression analysis by Oritz and Vuylsteke
(1995) that revealed that bunch weight and fruit size were
positively influenced by ploidy increase and change of
recessive to dominant alleles at the pi locus. At least three
independent but complimentary dominant genes control
vegetative parthenocarpy in Musa (Oritz and Vuylsteke,
1995).This work has proved the use of indirect marker
assisted selection (heritability and repeatability) which is
cheap and reliable for the selection of the F1 2n and 4n
parthenocarpy progeny(s) which would be used for the
production of superior secondary 3x progenies.
REFERENCES
Aba, S.C and Baiyeri, K.P (2018). Growth and yield
attributes of four plantain genotypes grown under
different nutrient management systems in a sub-humid
environment of Southeastern
Nigeria. Proceedings of 5th Annual Conference, Crop
Science Society of Nigeria,8-10 October 2018 pp1-5.
Adheka, J., Komoy,J. and Tamaru,C. (2018.) “Banana
diversity in the oriental provinces, north-eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo,” Acta Horticulturae, vol.
1196, pp. 255–264,
Adheka, J. G.,Dhed’a, D. B., Karamura, D.
Blomme,G.,Swennen,R. and De Langhe,E.,( 2018.):
Morphological diversity of plantain in the Democratic
Republic of Congo,” Scientia Horticulturae, vol. 234, pp.
126–133,
Akinyemi, S.O.S., Aiyelaagbe, I.O.O., and Akyeampong,
E., (2010).“Plantain (Musa spp.) cultivation in Nigeria: a
review of its production, marketing and research in the
last two decades,” Acta Horticulturae, vol. 879, pp.
211–218.
Baruwa, O.I., Masuku, M.B., and Alimi, T., (2011).
“Economic analysis of plantain production in derived
savanna zone of Osun state, Nigeria,” Asian Journal of
Agricultural Sciences, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 401–407.
Becker, W. G. (1975). Manual on Quantitative Genetics 3rd
Edition Washington State University Press, Pullman
Food and Agricultural Organization (2014). Banana market
review and banana statistics 2012– 2013, Rep.
I3627E/1/01.14. FAO, Rome. http://www.fao.org/
docrep/019/i3627e/i3627e.pdf
Frederic Bakery and Kenneth Shepherd (2008):
Chromosome count on banana root tip squashes. Fruits
vol.63 p 179-181
IPGRI-INIBAP/CIRAD (1996). Descriptors for banana
(Musa spp.), 55pp. IPGRI Publisher, Rome, Italy. ISBN
92-9043-307-8.

Nwankwo C.N and Ehirim C.N. (2010). Evaluation of
aquifer characteristic and ground water quantity using
geo-electrical method in Choba, Port Harcourt. Journal
of scholar research library (2).396-403.
Orluchukwu, J.A and Okolie, Henry (2019). The efficacy of
improved in-situ mulch rows on sustaining yields in
different plantain (Musa spp.) cycles in Rivers State,
Nigeria. New York Science Journal 12(4) 39-43.
Oselebe, H.O., Tenkouano, A. and Pillay, M. (2006):
Ploidy variation of musa hybrids from crosses. African
Journal of Biotechnology, vol.5(11),1048-1053.
Oritz, Rodomiro and Dirk. Vuylsteke (1995): Effects of the
parthenocarpy gene pi and ploidy on fruit and bunch
traits of plantain /banana hybrids. Heredity: 75 (1995)
460-465
Ortiz, R. and Vuylsteke, D. (1992). Recent advances in
Musa genetics, breeding and biotechnology. Plant
Breed. Abst. 66:1355-1363.
SAS institute Inc. (1999). SAS/ Stat user’s guide version 6,
volume 2 (4thed.) SAS Institute, Cary N.C. U.S.A
USDA (2017). Inadept Analysis of Nutrients in Plantains
(Musa species) Nutritive value per 100g. United States
Department of Agriculture Nutritional Nutrient data
base.
USDA (2017). United States Department of Agriculture,
Food Composition Databases Show.
Vilhena, R., Marson, B.M., Budel, J.M., Amano, E.,
Messias-Reason, L. and Pontarolo, R., (2019): Morpho-
anatomy of the inflorescence of musa x paradisica.
Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy, 29,147-151
Accepted 30 June 2020
Citation: Okolie H, Orluchukwu JA (2020). Introgression
of Plantain Fruit Parthenocarpy (pfp) Genes in Land Races
of Plantain (Musa spp.). International Journal of Plant
Breeding and Crop Science, 7(1): 756-762.
Copyright: © 2020: Okolie and Orluchukwu. This is an
open-access article distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original author and source are cited.

Introgression of Plantain Fruit Parthenocarpy (pfp) Genes in Land Races of Plantain (Musa spp.).

More Related Content

What's hot

Similar to Introgression of Plantain Fruit Parthenocarpy (pfp) Genes in Land Races of Plantain (Musa spp.).

More from Premier Publishers

Recently uploaded

Introgression of Plantain Fruit Parthenocarpy (pfp) Genes in Land Races of Plantain (Musa spp.).