USDA TARS Banana and Plantain Collection

See some of the national collection of Musa (banana and plantain) germplasm housed at the USDA ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. USDA technician Yaleidis Mendez shows how in vitro plants are acclimated to field conditions, then grown and eventually evaluated at the Isabela field site. Field verification (phenotyping) has benefited the USDA collection, as well as the Musa germplasm collection from Bioversity International.

Funding for this video was provided by USDA-Agricultural Research Service, with additional support from Colorado State University and USDA-NIFA-Higher Education Challenge Grant (2020-70003-303930). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.