Filling the gaps in gene banks: Collecting, characterizing, and phenotyping wild banana relatives of Papua New Guinea

Since natural habitats are disappearing fast, there is an urgent need to collect, characterize, and phenotype banana (Musa spp.) crop wild relatives to identify unique genotypes with specific traits that fill the gaps in our gene banks. This study delivers a proof of principle that the wild diversity is not yet fully covered in the gene banks and that wild banana populations contain individuals with unique traits, useful for drought tolerance breeding programs.