Evaluation of Resistance of Banana Genotypes with AAB Genome to Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 in China

Abstract

Banana cultivars with the AAB genome group comprise diverse subgroups, such as Plantain, Silk, Iholena, and Pisang Raja, among others, which play an important role in food security in many developing countries. Some of these cultivars are susceptible to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4), the most destructive pathogen threatening banana production worldwide, and some of them are still largely unknown. We evaluated the resistance of 37 banana genotypes, including Plantain, Silk, Iholena, Maia Maoli/Popoulu, Pisang Raja, Pome, and Mysore, to Foc TR4 under both greenhouse and field conditions. Genotypes from the Silk and Iholena subgroups were highly susceptible to Foc TR4. Pome and Mysore showed resistance and intermediate resistance, respectively. However, Pisang Raja ranged from susceptible to intermediate resistance. One cultivar from the Maia Maoli/Popoulu subgroup was highly susceptible, while the other displayed significant resistance. Most Plantain cultivars exhibited high resistance to Foc TR4, except two French types of cultivar, ‘Uganda Plantain’ and ‘Njombe N°2’, which were susceptible. The susceptibility to Foc TR4 of some of the AAB genotypes evaluated, especially Plantain and other cooking bananas, indicates that growers dependent on these varieties need to be included as part of the prevention and integrated Foc TR4 management strategies, as these genotypes play a crucial role in food security and livelihoods.

Fusarium wilt of banana in Cuba : Pathogen diversity and implications of a wider host range

“…Our data corroborate the susceptibility of different varieties of the Gros Michel and Silk subgroups to TR4 and Race 1 under greenhouse conditions (García-Bastidas, 2019;Rebouças et al, 2018;Chen et al, 2019;Zhan et al, 2022) and in the field (Orjeda, 2000;Smith et al, 2018;Zuo et al, 2018;Zhan et al, 2022). Like Gros Michel and Silk, the high level of susceptibility of Pisang Awak to Race 1 is well known (Stover, 1962;Ploetz, 2006) but only a few studies showed that it is also very susceptible to TR4 (García-Bastidas, 2019;Mintoff et al, 2021).…”

Chitosan induces salicylic acid local and systemically in banana plants and reduces colonization by the pathogenFusarium oxysporumf. sp. cubense TR4

“…EDS1 and PAD4 genes involved in effector triggered immunity (ETI) and basal immunity 73 are induced significantly by chitosan in most banana genotypes tested. These priming results are very relevant since banana genotypes show limited resistance to FocTR4 74 . Future studies should test chitosan defence induction in banana hybrids resistant to FocTR4 75 .…”

Two haplotype-resolved genome assemblies for AAB allotriploid bananas provide insights into banana subgenome asymmetric evolution and Fusarium wilt control

“…Most Plantain varieties are resistant to Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 ( Foc TR4), the most destructive pathogen threatening banana production worldwide ( Zhan et al., 2022 ). Genomic in situ hybridization studies have confirmed that Plantains with an AAB genome have 21 A and 12 B chromosomes ( D’Hont et al., 2000 ).…”

“…It is a moderately vigorous plant that produces exceptionally flavorful dessert fruits with white flesh and a sub-acid, apple-like flavor. In contrast to Plantains, the Silk subgroup is highly susceptible to Fusarium wilt ( Zhan et al., 2022 ).…”