Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) Breeding in the Philippines - Industrial Crops: Breeding for BioEnergy and Bioproducts - page 276

Abaca Breeding in the Philippines

History of Abaca Breeding

Musa textilis is cross compatible with several Musa species including
M. acuminata , M. balbisiana, M. lolodensis , and M. borneensis [ 22 ]. Their hybrids
are often partially or highly sterile. Cross fertilization in abaca is facilitated by the
stigma remaining receptive for about 2 days. Once fertilized, the flower turns brown
and shrivels within 24 h. The heart or panicle containing the male flower may be
gathered and kept in the shade for 7 days with the pollen remaining viable and
effective for fertilization [ 5 , 23 ]. Figure 12.5 shows the general method for polli-
nating abaca to develop hybrids.
The indigenous Musa species - M. acuminata, M. balbisiana , and M. textilis -
overlap and natural hybrids among these species exist. One cultivar of
M. balbisiana known as Pacol produces fiber of low quality that it has been used
as an adulterant to abaca. Natural hybrids of Pacol and abaca exist in the Bicol
Region and are known as Canton and Minay [ 24 ]. The basic chromosome number
for the section Eumusa to which the edible bananas belong is n

¼

11, whereas the

section Australimusa to which abaca belongs is n 10. The natural hybrid between

the diploid banana and abaca called Minay/Minary/Minray has 2 n

¼

¼ 21 [ 25 , 26 ] and

Canton has 2 n 20 [ 24 ].

Canton is highly sterile but Minay occasionally produces seeds. Crosses between
M. balbisiana and M. textilis have produced hybrids with morphological charac-
teristics and chromosomal numbers similar to those of Canton and Minay

¼

Fig. 12.5 Pollination method to develop abaca hybrids