Kenyan growers get resistant green banana varieties

Banana growers in Kenya's Embu, Murang'a and Kirinyaga districts will have access to disease-resistant and high-yielding banana varieties through a partnership with researchers from Kenyatta University. This will enable growers from these areas to compete in the green banana market with their counterparts in Kisii and those from Uganda and Tanzania. The scientists are propagating and testing hybrid green banana varieties that are resistant to Black Sigatoka, one of the most devastating leaf diseases of bananas in the world. Mary Mwangi, a researcher in Kenyatta University's Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, said Black Sigatoka reduces photosynthesis and affects fruit filling. "Infected plants produce small ...