Fusarium wilt, a soil-borne fungal disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc) causes death of banana plants. The disease continually threatens the popular Cavendish cultivar, ‘Grand Nain,’ which is exported by numerous companies in Mindanao.
Foc has four known races: 1, 2, 3, and 4, which are identified based on the reaction to specific hosts. In the Philippines, occurrence of the disease is caused by races 1 and 2 and recently by the most virulent Tropical race 4 (TR4).
Menacingly destructive, the infestation has ravaged 635 hectares of banana plantation in Davao in 2012. The neighboring provinces of Bukidnon, North Cotabato, and Agusan del Sur are likewise threatened by the said disease.
To address this concern, local, national agencies, and groups from the private sector had committed to institute urgent measures to manage and control the spread of Fusarium wilt.
Among these agencies were the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), DOST-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD), Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC), Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agency, the Bureau of Plant Industry-Davao National Crop Research, Development and Production Support Center (BPI-DNCRDPSC), local government units (LGUs), and state colleges and universities (SUCs).
Also joining the initiative were various agencies from the private sector – The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), Bioversity International, Banana Independent Growers, Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (TADECO), Lapanday, and other private institutions.
SMAARRDEC was tasked to coordinate all regional R&D programs, projects, and activities towards the management of Fusarium wilt, hence this research titled "S&T management approaches against Fusarium wilt [Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc)] on Cavendish in Mindanao."
Somaclones with the best performance
The study has determined Giant Cavendish tissue-cultured variant (GCTCV) 218 and 219 to have the best performance against Fusarium wilt. Seven GCTCVs were evaluated together with Grand Nain and Lakatan, as susceptible check. The somaclones which came from Taiwan were deposited at the Crops Science Cluster-Institute of Plant Breeding at UP Los Baños and the BPI-DNCRDPSC in Davao City.
Farmer-cooperators preferred GCTCV 218 and 219 based on horticultural characteristics and reaction to Foc TR4. Their reaction to TR4, though, was site/farm-specific as shown in the study. This means that their resistance to Fusarium wilt depends on soil management, soil acidity, and the level of inoculum in the area.
GCTCV 218 had robust pseudostem, better hand formation, and more uniform hand size, with fruit bunches comparable to ‘Grand Nain.’ On the other hand, GCTCV 219 proved to be highly resistant to Foc TR4 at almost 100%. The said somaclone, however, manifested wild fingers or malformation of hands.
The study also looked into the development of biological control strategies against Foc TR4 under greenhouse and field conditions. It optimized the protocol for application with or without soil amendment and the integrated use of biological control with other disease management approaches against Foc TR4.
The program also produced information on the assessment and distribution of Fusarium wilt incidence in Mindanao through the generated distribution map.
The study, “S&T management approaches against Fusarium wilt [Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc)] on Cavendish in Mindanao” won first place in the Research category of the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (NSAARRD).
A DOST-PCAARRD R&D initiative, NSAARRD showcases the most outstanding contributions of individuals and institutions in the improvement of the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sectors through research and development (R&D) awards.
NSAARRD was one of the highlights of the DOST-PCAARRD’s 6th anniversary celebration, which was held at the Council’s complex on June 27-30, 2017.