Abstract:
The lack of clean planting material is a major constraint
for banana production in East and Central Africa. When
establishing new fields, tissue culture plantlets will reduce
damage by banana pests and diseases. Pest infestation
or reinfestation, however, remains a vital concern.
Fungal endophytes, when inoculated into banana tissue
culture plants, extend the benefits of clean planting material.
Endophyte-enhanced tissue culture technology is
being developed at the International Institute of Tropical
Agriculture (IITA). Tissue culture production facilities
in Uganda are in their infancy, while in Kenya the situation
is more developed. Public-private partnerships between
IITA and Agro-Genetic Technologies Ltd (Uganda),
and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
(Kenya) have recently enabled IITA’s project to
make great progress towards bridging upstream research
and downstream technology transfer. Additionally,
unexpected synergisms have emerged through
mutual exchange of information and experience. Based
on IITA’s highly positive experience, such public-private
partnerships should be introduced as early as possible
in the developmental stages of activities to maximize
the benefits to research for development.
