Assessing the risk of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 outbreaks in Ecuadorian banana crops using spatial climatic data

Abstract

The Musaceae family is susceptible to Fusarium wilt (Fw), which is considered the most important disease globally, caused by a group of Fusarium species that includes F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (FocTR4). Until recently, FocTR4 was not present in Latin America. However, wilting, chlorosis of leaves, and vascular discoloration (typical symptoms of Fw) were observed in at least a hundred Cavendish plants located in Colombia, Peru and Venezuela in 2019, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Normally, the disease is more severe throughout the warmer and rainy months of the year. Since Ecuador is the world's leading exporter of bananas, including plantains, this study aimed to identify agroclimatic favorability zones for FocTR4 potential incidence in the country, testing linear models to evaluate disease occurrence in relation to climatic conditions and map favorability zones. Most of the banana-producing provinces, including Guayas, Los Ríos, El Oro, Manabí, Santa Elena, and Esmeraldas, presented an estimate ranging from medium-low to very high. In Guayas and Los Rios, the agroclimatic favorability zones of the main Ecuadorian producer provinces for a very high-risk account for almost 50%. This information can help make preventive management decisions in zones with a greater risk of spreading FocTR4.

Antioxidant and Antifungal Properties of Cinnamon, Cloves, Melia azedarach L. and Ocimum gratissimum L. Extracts against Fusarium oxysporum Isolated from Infected Vegetables in Mauritius

“…Similarly, even though winter months tend to be drier, rainfall is still relatively common, resulting in humid conditions. Hence, given that the severity of Fusarium infections is more severe in warm and humid weather [ 54 , 55 ], this would explain the disease prevalence reported by the farmers across the two seasons.…”

Projected Heat Waves in Ecuador under Climate Change: Insights from HadGEM-RegCM4 Coupled Model

“…This pathogen thrives in the warmer temperatures which are becoming increasingly common due to heatwaves, exacerbating the risk of widespread outbreaks. A study conducted across various banana-producing provinces in Ecuador, including Guayas, Los Ríos, El Oro, Manabí, Santa Elena, and Esmeraldas, found varying levels of agroclimatic favorability for FocTR4, with certain areas presenting a very high risk of disease proliferation [63]. This emerging threat underscores the urgent need for integrated pest management strategies and the development of resistant banana cultivars to safeguard the livelihoods of rural communities dependent on banana farming and ensure the sustainability of Ecuador's banana export market in the face of escalating heatwave events.…”

A Study on the Distribution Pattern of Banana Blood Disease (BBD) and Fusarium Wilt Using Multispectral Aerial Photos and a Handheld Spectrometer in Subang, Indonesia

“…Here, the spatial distribution of infected banana trees was obtained using statistical analysis. Similarly, in Ledesma et al [13], the improvement was made by adding the spatial climatic data. Both studies successfully showed how fusarium-infected banana trees can be understood spatially.…”