Impact and control of transboundary and invasive banana (Musa spp.) Wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense

Abstract

Fusarium wilt (FW), or Panama disease, which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Focb), is one of the most destructive threats to banana/plantain (Musa spp.) pro duction worldwide. Especially the pandemic of Focb race TR4, which can cause FW on the FW-resistant cultivar ‘Cavendish’, is damag ing banana plantations in Asia, India, Australia, East Africa, and South America. In the Selva area of Peru, banana cultiva tion is an important part of farmers’ liveli hoods. A team of Japanese and Peruvian research institutes is currently working on a SATREPS project with the goal of not only preventing the introduction of Focb race TR4 into Peruvian organic banana production areas but also enabling the continuation of high quality banana production by preventing existing FW, thereby improving the liveli hoods of farmers in the region. To achieve this goal, "ve research activities are conducted in the jungle, Tingo María area: (1) establish ment of speci"c diagnosis technology for FW at the macro- to micro-level; (2) development of varieties that are resistant to FW using mutation induction; (3) establishment of a pathogen-free seedling production and supply system; (4) analysis of the microbial #ora of disease-suppressing soil; and (5) establish ment of low-environmental-impact FW con trol technology, such as biological pesticides and plant activators