Characterization of recommended banana cultivars using morphological and molecular descriptors

Abstract

New banana varieties with superior agronomical characteristics have been developed through introduction and/or genetic breeding. In order to guarantee its marketing and intellectual property, these new varieties need to be characterized by efficient inheritable qualitative morphological and molecular descriptors. The aim of the research was to characterize recommended banana varieties using qualitative morphological and molecular descriptors. Twelve genotypes were analyzed using 61 morphological descriptors where 17 were related to the plant, 24 to the bunch and 20 regarding the flower. Eighty-one molecular markers; 47 RAPD primers and 34 SSR primers were used. The morphological and molecular descriptors were efficient in the characterization and identification of specific characteristics for most of the varieties evaluated. Plant and inflorescence descriptors presented the greatest variability of characteristics that can facilitate its use for cultivar protection and registration.