Thumbnail Image

Preventing the spread and introduction of Banana Fusarium Tropical race 4 (TR4)

TR4 Global Network - An initiative of the World Banana Forum










Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Preventing the spread and introduction of banana fusarium wilt disease Tropical race 4 (TR4)
    Guide for travelers
    2020
    Also available in:

    Banana is an important crop for food security and ensuring the livelihoods of approximately 400 million people who depend on the crop either as a staple food or source of income, particularly in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Plant pests and diseases can seriously affect agricultural production and livelihood of rural people. Fusarium wilt of banana is one of the key examples of crop devastation by a plant disease. This disease brought the banana export industry almost to a halt in the 20th century when the popular banana variety Gros Michel was devastated in Central America. The sector was saved by the introduction of the Cavendish variety, which is resistant to race 1 of the fungus. However, Cavendish bananas are now succumbing to a new, highly aggressive strain of the Fusarium wilt fungus, Tropical race 4 (TR4). Fusarium wilt TR4 threatens almost all banana producers, posing the greatest risks to countries producing Cavendish bananas in monoculture plantations in Asia, Australia, Africa, the Near East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Cavendish bananas, which constitute approximately half of the bananas grown globally are highly susceptible to TR4, but other dessert banana varieties grown in these regions are also susceptible. Once established in a banana plantation, the fungus can survive in the soil for decades with its chlamydospores, even without banana plants. Scientific reports indicate the presence of TR4 in numerous countries in Asia (China – mainland and Taiwan Province), India, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar,
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    What you need to know about Tropical Race 4
    TR4 Global Network - An initiative of the World Banana Forum
    2020
    Also available in:

    The flyer, What you need to know about TR4, aims to inform the general public with basic information about Tropical race 4 (TR4). The underlying message is that actions can indeed be taken to help prevent the spread of the pest and that the way forward is for stakeholders across the banana industry to act with urgency and in a collaborative manner. Fusarium Tropical race 4 (TR4) is a strain of the soil born fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense whose spores can lie dormant in the soil until a susceptible plant is established nearby. These spores infect the plant through the roots and inhabit the banana or plantain plant’s xylem vessels, blocking the flow of water and nutrients. Fungicides can't save plants that are already infected with TR4, and the fungus's spores persist in soil for decades. Therefore the most immediate approach to combat TR4 is prevention of its spread into clean areas and containment when it is detected. In the long term, diversification of crops and better use of available genetic resources are key to building resilience to the disease. Agro-ecological innovations will be increasingly important to produce varieties less susceptible to TR4. The flyer focuses on three practical items that a visitor to a banana or plantation farm can do to minimise the risk of spreading TR4.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Building Regional Surveillance, Prevention and Management Capacities to Combat the Possible Spread of Fusarium Wilt Caused by Fusariumoxysporumf.sp.cubense Tropical Race 4 Fungus (FOC TR4) - TCP/RLA/3724 2022
    Also available in:

    Bananas are the world's fourth most important staple food and an important consumption and export item in RLC, a region that is home to six of the world's top ten exporters and three of the world's top producers Banana Fusarium Wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f sp cubense Foc is one of the most destructive banana and plantain diseases worldwide and a serious threat to the RLC region Tropical Race 4 Foc TR 4 has caused severe losses in southeast Asian countries with serious repercussions for smallholders, workers and the banana value chain It is estimated that without consistent and coordinated action between and among countries, this pest could affect more than 1 6 million ha by 2040 The Foc TR 4 can be spread by infested plant materials, spores and soil particles attached to agricultural tools, shoes, vehicles and other means Irrigation and water drainage, particularly flooding, plays a critical role in its spread Controlling its spread requires the strengthening of country prevention and surveillance systems, but also a commitment to international coordination in order to develop and implement collective protection strategies There is therefore a need to i formulate a regional action plan for Foc TR 4 prevention, surveillance and eventual response ii) develop and adopt national action plans for Foc TR 4 response, surveillance and prevention and iii) build capacities to contribute to Foc TR 4 prevention, response and surveillance, as essential elements for ownership and sustainability of all these actions.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.