Browsing by Author "Tripathi, Jaindra Nath"

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    Genetic Improvement of Banana for Resistance to Xanthomonas Wilt in East Africa
    (Food and Energy Security, 2024-12) Musabyemungu, Anastasie; Tripathi, Jaindra Nath; Muiruri, Samwel K.; Gaidashova, Svetlana V.; Rukundo, Placide; Tripath, Leena
    Banana (Musa spp.) is a staple food and income generation crop, feeding millions worldwide. However, the cultivation of bananas is challenging due to biotic and abiotic production constraints. Among these factors are pests and diseases, especially banana bacterial disease. Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pathovar musacearum (Xcm), has the most significant detrimental economic effect on East African banana production. The infection of BXW is rapid and severe; its impact increases over time and causes huge banana yield losses. The Xcm infects and causes disease in all types of bananas except the wild diploid type Musa balbisiana, which is resistant boosting plant immunity for controlling Xcm and other diseases in bananas. Resistant cultivars are the best promising management option for controlling Xcm and other diseases in bananas. All the cultivated bananas are sterile, and have a long generation cycle, which complicates their improvement through conventional breeding. Biotechnological approaches to banana improvement can complement conventional breeding by overcoming some of its challenges. Additionally, genetic engineering could speed up the process of crop improvement, especially for sterile seedless crops like bananas. It is also specific to the target gene and precise modification that avoids unwanted genes in the normal breeding process. Recent developments using genetic engineering and genome editing on bananas have been initiated to tackle these issues. This review article focuses on the challenges of traditional breeding and the progress of genetic engineering and genome editing approaches, aiming to enhance understanding of achieving an essential genetic gain of bananas against the BXW. This understanding is crucial for enhancing food security in East Africa and globally.
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    Overexpression of Musavicilin Gene for Disease Resistance in Banana.
    (Frontiers in Plant Science, 2026-03) Macharia, Sarah Wanjiku; Tripathi, Jaindra Nath; Ntui, Valentine Otang; Kariuki, Samwel Muiruri; Tripathi, Leena
    Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease, caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum, is a major constraint to banana production in East and Central Africa. All cultivated banana varieties are susceptible, with the wild progenitor Musa balbisiana being the only known source of complete resistance. Limitations in classical breeding have prompted the exploration of molecular genetic tools, such as genetic modification, to develop resistant cultivars. Comparative transcriptomic analyses revealed a five-fold upregulation of MusaVicilin gene in M. balbisiana (BB genome) compared to the BXW- susceptible ‘Pisang Awak’ at early infection stage with the pathogen, suggesting its role in defense. This study investigated whether constitutive overexpression of the MusaVicilin gene cloned from M. balbisiana could enhance resistance to BXW in the susceptible ‘Sukali Ndiizi’ cultivar (AAB genome). Transgenic lines were developed overexpressing the MusaVicilin gene under the control of the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of embryogenic cell suspension of ‘Sukali Ndiizi’ generated 52 independent transgenic lines. These transgenic lines were confirmed via PCR and Southern blot analysis. The transgenic lines showed reduced disease severity and significantly lower disease severity index compared with non-transgenic controls. MusaVicilin overexpression (∼400 - 1300 folds) showed moderate correlation with disease resistance (r=0.68, p