In Argentina, they preserve wide genetic variability of the banana

To the more than 40 thousand entries of plant genetic material from the Germplasm Bank Network (RBG) of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology of Argentina (INTA), the fruit most chosen by Argentines is added. At the INTA of Laguna Naineck, in the province of Formosa, more than 50 living genetic materials of bananas, of national and international origin, are collected. To this amount, 40 more materials will be added this year, the institute reported. “To this Network, the Active Banana Germplasm Bank is now added,” detailed Gerardo Tenaglia, specialist from the IPAF NEA Region of INTA research team, in statements collected by the entity. Tenaglia highlighted that having a germplasm bank is “an enormous advantage” from the point of view of genetics and becomes “a fundamental tool” for breeding teams. “All the biotechnology that is coming is based on being able to pass a gene from a wild plant, from a wild banana, or a banana, an advanced line, or a line that is kept ...