Taiwan Banana Research Institute

The Taiwan Banana Research Institute (TBRI; Chinese: 財團法人台灣香蕉研究所) specializes in the breeding of bananas and research about their cultivation and diseases. Bananas are Taiwan's most important export fruit.

Taiwan Banana Research Institute
財團法人台灣香蕉研究所

Established	1970
Chairman	Hsieh Min-chu
Director	Hwang Shin-chuan
Location	Pingtung County, Taiwan
Website	www.banana.org.tw

History

The TBRI was founded in 1970 in response to the devastation in 1967 of Taiwan's banana industry by the Panama disease. The original sponsors were the Taiwan Banana Fruit Quality Improvement association, the Taiwan Provincial Fruit and Marketing Cooperative, and the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction.[1]

In response to TR4 the TBRI grew millions of tissue-cultured banana plantlets in the hopes of generating beneficial mutations which would improve resistance to TR4.[2] From these two Giant Cavendish Tissue Culture Variants known as GCTCV 218 and GCTCV 219 which have increased resistance to TR4.[3]

Developed varieties

Formosana

The Formosana is resistant to Panama disease TR4.[4]

See also

• Taiwan Sugar Research Institute

References

1. "Taiwan Banana Research Institute" (PDF). www.banana.org.tw. TBRI. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
2. Fleming, Nic. "Science's search for a super banana". www.theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
3. Amelinckx, Andrew. "Researcher Says the Impending Death of the World's Favorite Banana Has Been Greatly Exaggerated". modernfarmer.com. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
4. "South African Company Strikes Deal to Grow TR4-resistant Banana Varieties". www.freshfruitportal.com. Fresh Fruit Portal. Retrieved 26 February 2020.