CHAPTER 8: Fusarium Wilt (Panama Disease) and Monoculture in Banana Production: Resurgence of a Century-Old Disease

Viljoen, Altus; Ma, Lijun; Molina, A.

doi:10.1094/9780890546383.008

Cited by 38 publications

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“…12 The occurrence of Foc TR4 in Mozambique has become of great concern to growers in Mozambique, its neighbours and other African countries as the pathogen does not only affect Cavendish cultivars, but also all other cultivars susceptible to Foc races 1 and 2. 6,9 The Cavendish somaclones evaluated in this study were significantly more resistant to Foc TR4 than Nandi and DPM-25 over two planting seasons, even though they were slower growing, generally taller, and produced smaller bunches in the ratoon cycle. While GCTCV-119 was most resistant to Foc TR4, it performed worst in production properties.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The only areas where Foc TR4 was known to occur by February 2013 were Southeast Asia, the Northern Territory of Australia, and Oman. 9 It is thus believed that Foc TR4 was most likely introduced into Metocheria from Asia, but it is unclear when and how this happened. Circumstantial evidence has subsequently implied that Foc TR4 might have been present at Metocheria farm as early as 2010 when several plants with leaf yellowing were noticed and destroyed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The heavy clay soil can easily attach to shoes, plantation tools and machinery and, if infested with Foc TR4, could have moved the fungus into new areas. 2,9 The first cases of the disease in other plantations were initially found on road sides, and could have been spread by vehicles or the rotation of farm workers between plantations. Another possible source of dissemination could have been irrigation water, as water from infested plantations was drained into the river from where it was pumped back onto the plantations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cavendish bananas are difficult to breed, and most export markets do not accept genetically modified food. 9 Mutation breeding by the prolonged multiplication of plants in tissue culture has successfully produced Cavendish clones with improved Foc TR4 resistance. 5 These somaclones may not be well adapted to new environments, and thus require further selection to improve their production traits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Occurrence and spread of the banana fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 in Mozambique

et al. 2020

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Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), poses a major threat to banana production globally. A variant of Foc that originated in Southeast Asia, called tropical race 4 (TR4), was detected on a Cavendish banana export plantation (Metocheria) in northern Mozambique in 2013. Foc TR4 was rapidly disseminated on the farm, and affected approximately half a million plants within 3 years. The fungus was also detected on a second commercial property approximately 200 km away (Lurio farm) a year later, and on a small-grower’s property near Metocheria farm in 2015. Surveys in Mozambique showed that non-Cavendish banana varieties were only affected by Foc race 1 and race 2 strains. The testing of Cavendish banana somaclones in northern Mozambique revealed that GCTCV-119 was most resistant to Foc TR4, but that GCTCV-218 produced better bunches. The occurrence of Foc TR4 in northern Mozambique poses a potential threat to food security on the African continent, where banana is considered a staple food and source of income to millions of people. Cavendish somaclones can be used, in combination with integrated disease management practices, to replace susceptible Cavendish cultivars in southern Africa. The comprehensive testing of African cooking bananas for resistance to Foc TR4 is required, along with the improvement of biosecurity and preparedness of growers on the African continent.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Occurrence and spread of the banana fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 in Mozambique

et al. 2020

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“…Foc TR4 is considered the most destructive Foc race known (Ploetz 2015b). It was first detected in Indonesia and Malaysia in 1990, and has since spread throughout Asia and to the Middle East (Viljoen et al 2019). Foc TR4 was detected in northern Mozambique in 2013 (Beed 2013)and there are significant concerns that the fungus may spread to neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia through the transboundary movement of planting material.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The development of a multiplex PCR assay for the detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense lineage VI strains in East and Central Africa

et al. 2020

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Banana is a staple food and cash crop grown in East and Central Africa (ECA). The main banana varieties grown in ECA are the East African highland bananas (EAHB), although dessert/beer bananas such as Sukari Ndizi, Kayinja (Pisang Awak) and Gros Michel are also produced due to their high value at local markets. The Fusarium wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) causes disease of susceptible dessert/beer bananas, which significantly reduces yields. Banana Fusarium wilt is managed by excluding the pathogen from disease-free areas and by planting disease-resistant varieties in infested fields. Six phylogenetically closely-related vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) of Foc, VCGs 0124, 0125, 0128, 01212, 01220 and 01222 are present in ECA, which all group together in Foc Lineage VI. Rapid and accurate detection of Foc Lineage VI strains is thus important to prevent its spread to disease-free areas. In this study, molecular markers specific to Foc Lineage VI were therefore developed. Primer sets were then combined in a multiplex PCR assay, and validated on a worldwide population of 623 known Foc isolates, other formae speciales and non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum isolates. The Foc Lineage VI multiplex PCR was used to identify Foc isolates collected in banana fields at five locations in Uganda and Tanzania. Foc Lineage VI DNA was detected at a concentration as low as 0.1 ng/μl, both in the absence and presence of banana DNA, and can therefore be used as an accurate diagnostic tool for Foc Lineage VI strains.

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CUR(E)ating a new approach to study fungal effectors and enhance undergraduate education through authentic research

Li,

McWilliams,

Rodrigues

et al. 2023

Biochem Molecular Bio Educ

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Course‐based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) integrate active, discovery‐based learning into undergraduate curricula, adding tremendous value to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) education. There are multiple challenges in transforming a research project into a CURE, such as the readiness of students, the time commitment of the instructor, and the productivity of the research. In this article, we report a CURE course developed and offered in the University of Massachusetts Amherst BMB Department since 2018 that addresses these challenges. Our CURE focuses on fungal effectors which are proteins secreted by a destructive pathogenic fungus Fusarium oxysporum, one of the top five most devastating plant pathogens. By studying this group of proteins, students are connected to real‐world problems and participate in the search for potential solutions. A 3‐week “standard Boot Camp” is implemented to help students familiarize themselves with all basic techniques and boost their confidence. Next, molecular cloning, a versatile technique with modularity and repeatability, is used as the bedrock of the course. Our past 5 years of experience have confirmed that we have developed a novel and feasible CURE protocol. Measurable progress documented by students who took this course includes stimulated active learning and increased career trajectory to pursue hypothesis‐based research to address societal needs. In addition, data generated through the course advance ongoing lab research. Collectively, we encourage the implementation of CURE among research‐intensive faculty to provide a more inclusive research experience to undergraduate students, an important element in predicting career success.

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CHAPTER 8: Fusarium Wilt (Panama Disease) and Monoculture in Banana Production: Resurgence of a Century-Old Disease

Cited by 38 publications

References 0 publications

Occurrence and spread of the banana fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 in Mozambique

Occurrence and spread of the banana fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 in Mozambique

The development of a multiplex PCR assay for the detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense lineage VI strains in East and Central Africa

CUR(E)ating a new approach to study fungal effectors and enhance undergraduate education through authentic research

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