Development of an excisable selectable marker system for banana

This study describes the development of a recombinase-based platform for the removal of selectable marker genes from transgenic bananas. Using a steroid-inducible recombinase enzyme and dual selection vector containing the green fluorescent protein reporter gene, a protocol based on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Cavendish banana embryogenic cells was established. The system was then practically applied to generate the first ever marker-free banana plants with potential resistance to banana bunchy top virus. This platform will provide an effective means of improving this economically important crop into the future and is a major step towards public acceptance of genetically modified bananas