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Gabe15 · 09-25-2009, 01:39 PM

Plants (or any living things for that matter) cannot be genetically altered for adaptation by their environment. The way landraces and heirloom varieties succeed is by human selection for a particular trait, not by mutating for adaptation within a single plant. Selection and evolution must occur over multiple generations. For non-seeded bananas, it can seem like they are adapting, but really its the same thing, random mutations lead to some bud sports that are better off than others and those are selected by farmers and propagated. In nature its the same thing, except since we aren't out there picking the ones that do best, other forces intervene and we call it natural selection.

TC is actually used however for breeding and improvement with bananas. What is done is that if you are producing enough plants (the program that is famous for this does about 2 million a year I think...maybe more) through TC, then there are bound to be somaclonal (somatic, non sexual) mutations that occur and when grown out in the field variations become noticable. Also, you can induce mutations by radiation, but the concept of not knowing what you will get until you grow it out and then selecting the ones that happen to be different and useful...is the same. The only way to directly change the genetics of a single plant (not the line over generations, thats selection) to suit a different set of conditions is by genetic engineering. However, even in genetic engineering, there is usually still a selection process.

09-25-2009, 01:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,348,116 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,241 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: locally adapted plants and tc'ing? Plants (or any living things for that matter) cannot be genetically altered for adaptation by their environment. The way landraces and heirloom varieties succeed is by human selection for a particular trait, not by mutating for adaptation within a single plant. Selection and evolution must occur over multiple generations. For non-seeded bananas, it can seem like they are adapting, but really its the same thing, random mutations lead to some bud sports that are better off than others and those are selected by farmers and propagated. In nature its the same thing, except since we aren't out there picking the ones that do best, other forces intervene and we call it natural selection. TC is actually used however for breeding and improvement with bananas. What is done is that if you are producing enough plants (the program that is famous for this does about 2 million a year I think...maybe more) through TC, then there are bound to be somaclonal (somatic, non sexual) mutations that occur and when grown out in the field variations become noticable. Also, you can induce mutations by radiation, but the concept of not knowing what you will get until you grow it out and then selecting the ones that happen to be different and useful...is the same. The only way to directly change the genetics of a single plant (not the line over generations, thats selection) to suit a different set of conditions is by genetic engineering. However, even in genetic engineering, there is usually still a selection process. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.