Black Sigatoka (pronounced “singatoka” — it’s the place in Fiji where it was first spotted) is a leaf-spot disease affecting banana plants that is caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Black Sigatoka disease is the greatest threat to production of the Cavendish, the world’s most common bunch of banana varieties. Resistance to the fungus has been found in a wild banana (Musa acuminata) called ‘Calcutta 4,’ and breeders have incorporated this resistance into several hybrids. However, some forms of the fungus have evolved to become more virulent and can now overcome these resistant hybrids, so breeders are again searching for additional sources of resistance among wild banana species.[i]
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About CWR
Crop wild relatives are the wild ‘cousins’ of our cultivated crops. In the same way that the wolf is related to the dog, CWR are related to our food plants.
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The Project
The project Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: “Collecting, Protecting and Preparing Crop Wild Relatives” aims to collect important species of crop wild relatives, ensure their long-term conservation, and facilitate their use in breeding new, improved crops.
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Resources
This Project has led to the development of a number of tools and resources for people interested in collecting, conserving and using crop wild relatives in breeding.
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Global Crop Diversity Trust
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