Mapping the future of bananas: The pan-genome breakthrough to develop disease- and weather-resilient varieties
Worldwide banana giant Chiquita has announced a major advancement in crop innovation with the completion of the Yelloway banana pan-genome.
The company labeled the development a “foundational scientific breakthrough” designed to accelerate the development of disease-resistant and climate-resilient varieties—a true map to a safer banana future.
Gert Kema, board member of Yelloway and emeritus professor of phytopathology at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, explains that the genome is like a landscape where, until now, researchers had only been able to reach major destinations using highways. In contrast, the pan-genome acts like GPS coordinates—precise enough to lead researchers to more specific places using secondary roads and even unpaved tracks.
Photo: Scot Nelson
“The banana pan-genome provides that high-resolution map, allowing us to fully explore the entire genomic landscape of banana," he said.
Using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology, the pan-genome was developed through Yelloway, an innovation joint venture between Chiquita and biotech research company KeyGene. The finding provides a comprehensive view of the fruit’s genetic diversity, capturing the full range of naturally occurring variation.
“Completing the banana pan-genome is a landmark achievement that demonstrates the value of collaboration across the supply chain and has the potential to advance banana research and breeding worldwide," said Peter Stedman, Sustainability Director at Chiquita.
Pan-genome: the key to the banana crisis response
The completion of the pan-genome comes at a critical moment for the global banana industry.
As Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) continues to spread and Black Sigatoka drives more than $100 million in annual protective costs, the ability to identify and deploy resilient genetic traits faster and more accurately has become increasingly important.
Photo courtesy of ASBAMA
By covering the genetic diversity of Musa acuminata—the species underpinning widely recognized banana varieties such as Gros Michel and Cavendish—the pan-genome allows Yelloway to move beyond broad genetic exploration and toward targeted breeding decisions.
This approach accelerates the development of banana varieties that are more resilient to disease, better suited to a changing climate, and aligned with consumer expectations.
Photo: Dean Calma / IAEA
"The banana pan-genome dramatically accelerates the development of improved banana varieties resistant to major threats such as TR4 and Black Sigatoka, diseases that endanger the banana as we know it today,” said Fernando Garcia-Bastidas, Head of the Yelloway Banana Breeding Program.
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