Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) Breeding in the Philippines

Abstract

Abaca (Musa textilis Nee.), a plant native to the Philippines, is the source of fiber known internationally as Manila hemp. It is indigenous to the Philippines whose favorable climatic condition and volcanic soils are suited to its cultivation. It is often used as raw material for cordage, clothing, and various handicrafts. Furthermore, the fibers can be manufactured into specialty papers such as currency notes, filter papers, stencil papers, and tea bags, among others. The abaca industry is a major dollar earner and an important export crop of the country. Due to the current concern for biodegradable products and forest conservation, it is expected that the abaca industry will continue to flourish in both domestic and international markets. With the advent of new uses of abaca, the crop will be extensively utilized for more industrial applications because it is a natural and superior material. The Philippine abaca industry continues to make a stronghold in both international and domestic markets generating US$80 M annually from 1996 to 2000. Being an export-oriented commodity, the country’s abaca industry has maintained its status as the world’s largest producer accounting for 97 % share of world imports. However, the abaca industry is still relying solely on traditional varieties, and due to limited attention devoted to sustained varietal improvement, the old abaca varieties had outlived their usefulness and now become easy prey for disease devastation.

Different plant breeding techniques are employed to develop abaca varieties possessing desirable traits like high fiber yield, good fiber quality, and high degree of resistance to major diseases of abaca. With conventional breeding method coupled with the recent advances in molecular biology and biotechnology, a more directed solution to the disease problem of the industry can now be identified. It is possible to isolate resistance genes from abaca varieties or in wild relatives. With basic knowledge on mechanisms of abaca-pathogen interactions, similar approaches can be applied to abaca breeding to produce durable resistance at a much faster pace. These improved abaca varieties can either be used directly for commercial planting or as genetic stocks to develop high-yielding varieties resistant to various diseases. The availability of these improved resistant high-yielding varieties backed by appropriate marketing strategies and employed with sound resistance management schemes brings forth a package of technology that promises to make abaca one of the top foreign exchange earners of the country.