Control of Panama Disease of Banana by Intercropping with Chinese Chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler): Cultivar Differences

Abstract

Highlightsl Intercropping of banana with Chinese chive can effectively reduce Panama diseasel Selection of appropriate cultivars of Chinese chive for intercropping is criticall 2-Methyl-2-pentenal (MP) is the key compound for the pathogen inhibitionl MP content and antifungal activity are key indices for cultivar selectionBackground Panama disease (Fusarium wilt disease) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 4 (FOC) severely threatens banana (Musa spp.) production worldwide. Intercropping of banana with Allium plants has shown a potential to reduce Panama disease. In this study six cultivars of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum Rottler) were selected to compare their differences in antifungal activity and active compounds. Three cultivars Duokang Fujiu 11, Fujiuhuang 2, and Duokang Sijiqing with higher levels of antifungal compounds were further used for intercropping with banana in the pots and field to compare their effects on growth and disease incidence of banana. Methods and Results The six cultivars showed significant differences in antifungal activity against FOC mycelia growth in both leaf volatiles and aqueous leachates. The aqueous leachates displayed stronger antifungal activity than the volatiles. Contents of three main antifungal compounds dipropyl trisulfide (DPT), dimethyl trisulfide (DMT), and 2-methyl-2-pentenal (MP) in volatiles and aqueous leachates varied considerably among cultivars. Pot and field experiments showed that intercropping with three selected Chinese chive cultivars significantly improved banana vegetative growth, increased photosynthetic characteristics and yield but decreased disease incidence of Panama disease.Conclusions Our results indicate that intercropping with Chinese chive shows potential to reduce banana Panama disease and selection of appropriate cultivars is vital for effective disease control.

Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms that uniquely identify cultivars of avocado (Persea americana)

“…For example, overreliance on the Hass cultivar can result in suboptimal fruit‐bearing patterns if conditions are not suitable (Garner and Lovatt, 2008), with many small fruit in one year and low numbers of large fruit in the following year. Evidence of the potentially catastrophic impact of low genetic diversity within a horticultural crop is currently being experienced in the banana industry, where Panama disease or Fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum ) has caused extensive crop failure across all major banana‐producing areas, essentially exacerbated by the extensive use of monocultures that facilitate rapid development of the disease (Ploetz, 2015; Li et al, 2020). Avocado production is currently threatened by laurel wilt, which causes the death of mature trees in some growing regions (Kendra et al, 2011; Ayala‐Silva et al, 2012).…”