Banana is a vital staple and cash crop cultivated in over 140 countries, sustaining the food and income security of more than 400 million people worldwide. However, its production is severely constrained by various diseases and pests, notably banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW), caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (Xvm). BXW continues to devastate banana fields across Eastern Africa, resulting in multi-billion-dollar losses and threatening regional food security. We are leveraging modern breeding tools, including transgenic technologies and genome editing, to develop banana varieties with durable resistance to BXW. The transgenic approach involves stacking three Musa-derived defense genes, each with a distinct mode of action, into a single event. Several transgenic events have been developed and validated, and those showing enhanced resistance under greenhouse conditions are now advancing toward field trials. Stacking defense genes with distinct mechanisms enhances the durability and spectrum of resistance. In parallel, genome editing is employed to precisely disrupt susceptibility (S) genes identified through comparative transcriptomic analysis between resistant and susceptible genotypes. This strategy enables the development of BXW-resistant plants while preserving key agronomic traits. As a transgene-free approach, it also promises wider public acceptance and fewer regulatory hurdles. This presentation will highlight recent scientific advancements in developing BXW-resistant banana using transgenic and genome editing platforms. These approaches offer a transformative pathway to enhance banana resilience, improve farmer livelihoods, and strengthen food security across sub-Saharan Africa.
