Current Advances in the Fusarium Wilt Disease Management in Banana with Emphasis on Biological Control

Abstract

Banana (Musa spp.) is the fourth most important global food commodity after rice, wheat and maize in terms of gross value production. At present, it is grown in more than 120 countries throughout tropical and subtropical regions and it is the staple food for more than 400 million people (Molina and Valmayor, 1999). Among the production constraints, Fusarium wilt caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cubense (Foc) is the most devastating disease affecting commercial and subsistence of banana production through out the banana producing areas of the world (Ploetz, 2005). The disease is ranked as one of the top 6 important plant diseases in the world (Ploetz & Pegg, 1997). In terms of crop destruction, it ranks with the few most devastating diseases such as wheat rust and potato blight (Carefoot and sprott, 1969). The disease almost destroyed the banana export industry, built on the Gros Michel variety, in Central America during the 1950’s (Stover, 1962). In addition, the widely grown clones in the ABB ‘Bluggoe’ and AAA ‘Gros Michel and Cavendish’ sub groups are also highly susceptible to this disease worldwide. Presently, Fusarium wilt has been reported in all banana growing regions of the world (Asia, Africa, Australia and the tropical Americas) except some islands in the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, Melanesia, and Somalia (Stover, 1962; Anonymous, 1977; Ploetz and Pegg, 2000).