Considered as the number one fruit crop by area and production in the country, bananas are planted in 443,370 hectares (ha) with 9.08 million metric tons production in 2015 based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. Of the total area planted to banana, 85,809 ha are used for Cavendish production mainly for export. This is located in Southern Mindanao and serviced by large multinational companies and smallhold growers.
Fusarium wilt, a destructive plant disease
The opportunity for export market has been adversely affected due to Fusarium wilt (FW), a disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) Tropical Race 4 (TR4). It is one of the most destructive plant diseases which cause wilting symptoms that may lead to plant death. The pathogen enters through the roots, progresses through the stem, and causes serious damage to the plant. The TR4 strain of the fungus is known to infect the highly susceptible Cavendish bananas. Mostly small and medium scale growers suffer from the incidence of this disease since they have no other land resources to move to or to expand production. FW was first identified in the Philippines particularly in Mindanao in 2005 and continues to threaten the Cavendish industry since then.
Addressing Fusarium wilt (FW)
To reduce, if not eliminate losses due to FW, the project Integrated management of Fusarium wilt of bananas in the Philippines and Australia was initiated through the joint efforts of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) with the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) and Provincial Government of Davao Del Norte as implementing agencies in the country.
Funded by the Governments of Australia and the Philippines, the project aims to provide options to limit losses of small holder Cavendish production in Davao del Norte due to FW; evaluate the effectiveness of best-bet Integrated Crop Management (ICM) approaches to enable production in the presence of FW; and assess barriers and drivers for adoption of management practices for the disease.
Limiting loses due to FW
To limit losses due to FW, USeP is identifying a suitable cover crop that suppresses the fungus causing the disease. Potential cover crops are pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi), kudso (Calapogonium mucunoides), and ornamental sweet potato (Ipomea batatas). Reducing soil movement from around banana plants within and between plantations is also important to limit the spread of FW. Results from USeP study showed that wire mesh, used as boot scrub, has the highest soil removing capacity compared with brush, coco coir, plastic bottle cap, and rubber bootscrubs. Furthermore, dipping the boots in higher concentration of disinfectants decreased the fungus population in the soil adhering to the footwear. A study in crop residue management is also being done to reduce Fusarium recovery.
Validating best-bet ICM practices
Puyod Farm in Lasang, Davao City was selected as one of the cooperating sites for the validation of best-bet ICM practices to enable commercial export Cavendish production in Davao del Norte. The field trial focused on genetic resistance, planting of ground cover to improve soil suppression to the fungus, and use of bio-control products. In another study, GCTCV-218 somaclone was more resistant to FW infection than Grand Naine, while use of ground cover and bio-control products had no effect in reducing the number of plants infected.
The same trial is being conducted by Andres M. Soriano Employees Fresh Fruits Producers Cooperative (AMSEFFPCO), cooperator in Brgy. Sampao, Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
In assessing barriers and drivers for adoption of management practices for the disease, farmer surveys were conducted in Davao del Norte. Based on survey result, common practices to eradicate FW used by growers are burning of infected banana plants and chemical application. Many management practices are available for the control of this disease, but barriers to adoption of these practices were identified such as conventional perception of the banana growers, their financial incapability, and information received that there is “no effective control” developed.
Considering these, increased awareness on disease management strategies, as well as the biology, disease spread, and risk pathway of Foc is needed.
Early detection and control of the disease, production of resistant somaclone variety GCTCV-218, and managing of footwear and disinfectants are being studied at present.