Breeding of a new Pisang Awak (ABB) variety Yufen No. 6 with high resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Abstract：Yufen No. 6 is a new banana variety with high resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. The seedling was a mutant induced by tissue culture and selected through multiple generations, which had been bred through multiple generations. Due to its resistance to Fusarium wilt of banana, short growth cycle, dwarfing, and excellent comprehensive traits, it was selected in the primary election in 2014. From 2016 to 2018, a variety comparison test was carried out in Nanning, Yulin, Laibin, Congzuo of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and other sites. From 2018 to 2020, multiple regional tests and production tests were conducted in autonomous regions or provinces of Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangdong. The new cultivar was licensed by the State Forestry and Grassland Administration in March 2023. From the overall field evaluation results, this cultivar is a medium high pole type, and the average height of the newly planted banana pseudostem is 335.3 cm, with a base circumference and middle circumference being 84.2 and 57.5 cm, respectively. The false stem is yellow green in color and shiny, with a reddish- brown- black color. The leaves of the plant are significantly smaller than the control, with a length and width of 209.0 and 64.6 cm, which are 4.4% and 9.4% smaller than Jinfen No. 1, respectively. Both sides of leaf blade base are rounded. The color of the leaf surface, back and midrib is green and glossy, with a lot of wax powder on the back and sheath. The length of the petiole is 54.7 cm, which is 9.4% shorter than that of Jinfen No. 1. The shape is winged, and the edges of the petiole grooves are closed and overlapped. The fruit panicles are oblique- growing and short cylindrical, compact in structure, neat in comb and good in commodity characteristics. The fruitfingers are arranged in double rows, with a straight shape and indistinct fruit edges. The apex of the fruit fingers is blunt and pointed, and there are persistent floral organs. There is no hair on fruit stalk. The fruit skin is medium-green, the flesh is medium hardness, and the flesh is milky white. Ripe fruit skin is yellow, the flesh is milky white, and mature fruits are persistent, which don’t fall from hands. The banana has sweet flavor without sour taste. The fruit edible rate is 75.5%. The soluble solids content of fruit is 28.9%, titratable acid content is 1.4%, reducing sugar content is 14.4%, and vitamin C content is 12.8 mg · 100 g-1 . At the late stage of maturity, there is no anthracnose spot on the surface of fruit peel. Fruit quality is excellent. The total number of sprouted leaves is 38-43, which is about 6-10, less than the control variety. The growth cycle of perennial banana seedlings is 11-13 months, which is 1-2 months shorter than that of Jinfen No. 1. The average yield per plant is 22.5 kg, and the production capacity is approximately 42 000 kg per hm2 (1860 plants per hm2 ). It is highly resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4, and the incidence rate is only 0.1%-5.0% in a severely infected field. There are no plum blossom spots in the late stage of fruit maturity, and the shelf life is about 4-6 days. This variety has a wide adaptability and has shown good adaptability when planted in tropical and subtropical banana producing areas such as Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangdong, etc. The cultivation techniques of Yufen No. 6 are summarized from the following aspects of planting materials, plantation location, fertilization, watering management, pest control and field management.