Banana Research at FABI

 The Banana Research Programme (BRP) was established at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria in South Africa in 1999. Initially, this programme focused on Fusarium wilt (Panama disease), a disease that is still considered to be an important constraint to banana production in South Africa. Today, an extensive research program exists. Our research addresses aspects of the biology, epidemiology and control of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, the interaction between the Fusarium wilt pathogen and bananas, understanding the basis of disease resistance in bananas, the isolation and identification of genes associated with resistance  and the effect of cold stress and plant nutrition on disease development. 

 

 

 
 
 

 


The group is also involved in research on banana leaf diseases, the banana weevil borer, nematodes and bacterial wilt of bananas. We have established a banana transformation facility for unconventional improvement of plants for disease and pest resistance. We continually produce tissue cultured bananas and conduct transformation experiments.

Our studies are based on an integrated disease and pest management (IDPM) approach, and combines cultural, biological and chemical control with plant resistance. All research is strongly supported by the latest developments in molecular biology and plant biotechnology.  These studies are performed at FABI-I and the newly built FABI-II building that host laboratories with the most modern research equipment, tissue culture facilities, an Arabidopsis laboratory, quarantine greenhouses and a Bio-informatics center. Apart from our research at the facilities of FABI, we have a strong field component and ongoing field trials.
The BRP collaborates closely with the South African Banana Growers Association (BGASA), Du Roi tissue culture laboratory, national and international research organizations, and participates in international programs on the management of diseases and pests in banana and plantain. FABI is a multi-disciplinary, post-graduate educational institution that aims to produce students at the post-graduate level that are well educated in plant science, using research projects of relevance particularly, but not exclusively, to Africa.
 

 

 

                                 

   Avocado Research as well as Banana Research

 
 
 
FABI