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

Authors

  • Altus Viljoen Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7146-0491
  • Diane Mostert Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3382-8555
  • Tomas Chiconela Faculty of Agronomy, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
  • Ilze Beukes Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
  • Connie Fraser 1.Matanuska, Nampula, Mozambique; 2.Banana Growers Association of South Africa, Mbombela, South Africa
  • Jack Dwyer Matanuska, Nampula, Mozambique
  • Henry Murray Matanuska, Nampula, Mozambique
  • Jamisse Amisse Mozambique Agriculture Research Institute, Nampula, Mozambique https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8569-5822
  • Elie L. Matabuana 1.Matanuska, Nampula, Mozambique; 2.Lurio Farm, Jacaranda, Mozambique
  • Gladys Tazan Jacaranda Agricultura, Namialo, Nampula, Mozambique
  • Otuba M. Amugoli Faculty of Agronomy, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0384-9264
  • Ana Mondjana Faculty of Agronomy, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
  • Antonia Vaz Department of Plant Health, Maputo, Mozambique
  • Anria Pretorius Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
  • Sheryl Bothma Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7330-090X
  • Lindy J. Rose Department of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0741-601X
  • Fenton Beed 1.International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; 2.Plant Production and Protection Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
  • Fazil Dusunceli Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Sub-regional Office for Central Asia, Ankara, Turkey
  • Chih-Ping Chao Taiwan Banana Research Institute, Pingtung, Taiwan
  • Agustin Molina International Consultant Banana R&D, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2020/8608

Keywords:

Fusarium wilt, Foc TR4, Africa, plant resistance, disease spread

Abstract

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.

Significance:

  • This paper presents the first official report of the invasive pest Foc TR4 in Africa.
  • The spread of Foc TR4 on Cavendish banana farms in Mozambique was documented.
  • Banana varieties that could replace susceptible Cavendish bananas were identified.

Published

2020-11-26

Issue

Section

Research Article

How to Cite

Viljoen, A., Mostert, D., Chiconela, T. ., Beukes, I. ., Fraser, C., Dwyer, J., Murray, H. ., Amisse, J. ., Matabuana, E. L., Tazan, G., Amugoli, O. M., Mondjana, A., Vaz, A., Pretorius, A., Bothma, S., Rose, L. J., Beed, F., Dusunceli, F. ., Chao, C.-P. ., & Molina, A. (2020). Occurrence and spread of the banana fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 in Mozambique. South African Journal of Science, 116(11/12). https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2020/8608
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