Abstract
Fusarium wilt of banana (Musa spp.), caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is a major constraint to banana production worldwide (Dita et al., 2018). A strain of Foc that affects Cavendish (AAA) bananas in the tropics, called Foc tropical race 4 (TR4; VCG 01213), is of particular concern. Foc TR4 was first detected in Malaysia and Indonesia around 1990 but was restricted to Southeast Asia and northern Australia until 2012. The fungus has since been reported from Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East (Viljoen et al., 2020). Foc TR4 was detected in Colombia in 2019 and in Perú in 2021 (Reyes-Herrera et al., 2020). The incursions into Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) triggered global concerns, as 75% of international export bananas are produced in the region. Banana production in Venezuela, however, is primarily intended for domestic consumption (Aular and Casares, 2011). In 2021 the country produced 533,190 metric tons of banana on an area of 35,896 ha, with an approximate yield of 14,853 kg/ha (FAOSTAT, 2023). In July 2022, severe leaf-yellowing, and wilting, along with internal vascular discoloration of the pseudostem, were noted in Cavendish banana plants cultivar 'Valery' in the states of Aragua (10°11'8″N; 67°34'51″W), Carabobo (10º14'24″N; 67º48'51″W), and Cojedes (9°37'44″N; 68°55'4″W). Necrotic strands from the pseudostems of diseased plants were collected for identification of the causal agent using DNA-based techniques, vegetative compatibility group (VCG) analysis and pathogenicity testing. The samples were first surface disinfected and plated onto potato dextrose agar medium. Single-spored isolates were identified as F. oxysporum based on cultural and morphological characteristics, including white colonies with purple centres, infrequent macroconidia, abundant microconidia on short monophialides, and terminal or intercalary chlamydospores (Leslie and Summerell, 2006). Foc TR4 was identified from five isolates by endpoint and quantitative-PCR using four different primer sets (Li et al. 2013; Dita et al. 2010; Aguayo et al. 2017; Matthews et al. 2020). The same isolates were identified as VCG 01213 by successfully pairing nitrate non-utilizing (nit-1) mutants of the unknown strains with Nit-M testers of Foc TR4 available at Stellenbosch University (Leslie and Summerell, 2006). For pathogenicity testing, 3-month-old Cavendish banana plants cultivar 'Williams' were inoculated with isolates from Venezuela grown on sterile millet seed (Viljoen et al., 2017). Plants developed typical Fusarium wilt symptoms 60 days after inoculation, including yellowing of leaves that progressed from the older to the younger leaves, wilting, and internal discoloration of the pseudostem. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolating and identifying Foc TR4 from the plants by qPCR (Matthews et al., 2020). These results provide scientific proof of the presence of Foc TR4 in Venezuela. The Venezuelan Plant Protection Organization (INSAI) has declared Foc TR4 as a newly introduced pest (January 19, 2023), and infested banana fields were placed under quarantine. Comprehensive surveys are now conducted in all production areas in Venezuela to assess the presence and impact of Foc TR4, and information campaigns were started to make farmers aware of biosecurity protocols. Collaborative initiatives and coordinated actions among all stakeholders are needed to prevent the spread of Foc TR4 to other countries in Latin America, and to develop Foc TR4-resistant bananas (Figueiredo et al. 2023).
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Cavendish banana plants cultivar Valery showed severe yellowing, wilting and vascular discoloration in three Venezuelan states.
Verbatim
e0“In July 2022, severe leaf-yellowing, and wilting, along with internal vascular discoloration of the pseudostem, were noted in Cavendish banana plants cultivar 'Valery' in the states of Aragua (10°11'8″N; 67°34'51″W), Carabobo (10º14'24″N; 67º48'51″W), and Cojedes (9°37'44″N; 68°55'4″W).”
Claim · model-written summary
Single-spored isolates were identified morphologically as F. oxysporum.
- Taxon
- Bananast0
- Interactor
- F. oxysporum
_(Fusarium_oxysporum_f.sp._batatas)_1234227-PPT-Clemson_University.jpg?width=60)
Fusarium oxysporume0pathogen - Outcome
- isolates were identified as F. oxysporume0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_(Fusarium_oxysporum_f.sp._batatas)_1234227-PPT-Clemson_University.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Single-spored isolates were identified as F. oxysporum based on cultural and morphological characteristics”
t0“Cavendish Bananas Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4”
Claim · model-written summary
PCR identified Foc TR4 from five isolates.
- Taxon
- Bananast0
- Interactor
- Foc TR4
_(38100977215).jpg?width=60)
Fusarium odoratissimume0pathogen - Outcome
- Foc TR4 was identifiede0
- Value
- five isolatese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_(38100977215).jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Foc TR4 was identified from five isolates by endpoint and quantitative-PCR using four different primer sets”
t0“Cavendish Bananas Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4”
Claim · model-written summary
The same isolates were identified as VCG 01213.
- Taxon
- Bananast0
- Interactor
- Foc TR4Fusarium odoratissimume0pathogen
- Outcome
- identified as VCG 01213e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The same isolates were identified as VCG 01213 by successfully pairing nitrate non-utilizing (nit-1) mutants of the unknown strains with Nit-M testers of Foc TR4”
t0“Cavendish Bananas Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4”
Claim · model-written summary
Inoculated Williams banana plants developed Fusarium wilt symptoms after 60 days.
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Material
- Williamse0
- Treatment
- inoculated with isolates from Venezuelae0
- Outcome
- Fusarium wilt symptomse1
- Qualifier
- 60 days after inoculatione1
FusariumNot reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“3-month-old Cavendish banana plants cultivar 'Williams' were inoculated with isolates from Venezuela grown on sterile millet seed”
e1“Plants developed typical Fusarium wilt symptoms 60 days after inoculation, including yellowing of leaves that progressed from the older to the younger leaves, wilting, and internal discoloration of the pseudostem.”
Claim · model-written summary
Foc TR4 was reisolated and identified from the inoculated plants.
- Taxon
- Bananast0
- Interactor
- Foc TR4Fusarium odoratissimume0pathogen
- Outcome
- reisolating and identifying Foc TR4 from the plantse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolating and identifying Foc TR4 from the plants by qPCR”
t0“Cavendish Bananas Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that Foc TR4 is present in Venezuela.
- Taxon
- Bananast0
- Interactor
- Foc TR4Fusarium odoratissimume0pathogen
- Outcome
- presence of Foc TR4e0
- Setting
- Venezuelae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“These results provide scientific proof of the presence of Foc TR4 in Venezuela.”
t0“Cavendish Bananas Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors call for coordinated action to prevent spread of Foc TR4 and develop resistant bananas.
- Taxon
- bananase0
- Interactor
- Foc TR4Fusarium odoratissimume0pathogen
- Outcome
- prevent the spread of Foc TR4 to other countries in Latin America, and to develop Foc TR4-resistant bananase0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Collaborative initiatives and coordinated actions among all stakeholders are needed to prevent the spread of Foc TR4 to other countries in Latin America, and to develop Foc TR4-resistant bananas”
t0“Cavendish Bananas Caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4”
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inoculation · Fusarium · MusaPositive and negative results
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See all 12 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.