A PhD Plant Breeding and Genetics Research Fellow at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Moureen Nansamba, has called for the development of drought-resistant banana varieties to protect production from the growing effects of climate change.
She said identifying banana varieties that can withstand water stress and rising temperatures was crucial to sustaining yields, strengthening food security and protecting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who depend on the crop for food and income.
Ms Nansamba made the call during a presentation on “Banana Phenotyping: Modelling Transpiration and AI-Based Screening to Identify Climate-Resilient Varieties” at the 9th International Plant Phenotyping Symposium (IPPS9), held in Accra from October 12 to 16, 2026.
She explained that her research uses climate simulations, controlled-environment experiments and field trials to assess how different banana genotypes respond to varying temperatures and soil moisture levels.
The study, she said focuses on stomatal conductance and transpiration, which influence the amount of water plants use and their growth potential.
The research has revealed genetic diversity among the banana varieties tested, with the genotypes broadly grouped into two categories: “risk-takers”, which grow rapidly but require more water, and “conservative” varieties, which use less water but grow more slowly.
According to her, understanding these differences is important for identifying varieties suited to different climatic conditions and improving irrigation practices, particularly as water availability becomes increasingly uncertain.
Ms Nansamba noted that bananas are highly sensitive to drought and respond to water stress by reducing stomatal conductance and transpiration to conserve moisture, often at the expense of growth.
“Bananas are very sensitive to drought, and identifying varieties that can withstand water stress is crucial to sustaining production under changing climatic conditions,” she said.
She said prolonged drought could cause leaves to dry and wilt, reduce photosynthesis, limit bunch development and result in smaller bunches and fewer fingers. The severity of the damage depends on the banana variety, the plant's growth stage and the duration of the drought.
She highlighted the importance of the research to East Africa, a major banana-producing region that is increasingly vulnerable to climate change. The region is also home to East African Highland bananas, which are important sources of food and income for smallholder farmers.
Ms Nansamba said developing predictive models to determine the suitability of different banana genotypes for specific environments would help researchers identify varieties better adapted to changing climatic conditions.
“The genetic diversity we have observed among banana varieties is important because it gives us opportunities to identify genotypes that can perform better under different climatic conditions.”
She added that validating research findings through field trials would be essential to ensuring that promising varieties perform well under real-world growing conditions.
“Understanding the water requirements of individual banana varieties can help farmers make better irrigation decisions, particularly where water resources are limited.”
