Abstract
Banana is a major global fruit crop, increasingly threatened by Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4). This soilborne pathogen poses a severe risk due to its persistence, lack of efficient chemical control, and rapid spread. This study assessed Foc TR4 distribution in South Lebanon and evaluated under laboratory, pot and field conditions the efficacy of several biological control agents alongside the disease response and yield performance of five banana cultivars, including Cavendish types commonly grown in the region. Survey of Lebanon’s southern coast found Foc TR4 in 30% of 87 banana fields. Invitro screening identified Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (Ascomycota: Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae) strain T24 as the most effective antagonist, achieving 74.44% growth inhibition of Foc TR4. In greenhouse trials, T. harzianum reduced leaf and rhizome disease severity indices (LDSI and RDSI) to 25 and 42%, respectively compared to > 90% in untreated controls. The banana variety ‘GCTCV-218’ (Formosana), a Giant Cavendish tissue-culture variant, exhibited the highest resistance, whereas the Canarian cultivar, a Dwarf Cavendish type (Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’), was the most susceptible. In the first field trial, T. harzianum fully suppressed endophytic Foc TR4 in local cultivars and improved bunch weight. GCTCV 218 and Grand Naine, a medium Cavendish cultivar, produced the heaviest bunches (30.7 and 29.6 kg). In the second field trial, C4 (Calcutta 4), a wild non-Cavendish banana, was tested as an alternative to Grand Naine due to reported tolerance. Under natural Foc TR4 infestation, different biocontrol treatments significantly reduced disease and improved yield. T. harzianum strains T24 + T42 reduced RDSI to 5% in GCTCV 218 and to 58%in Canary bananas as compared to 57 and 82% in their respective controls. Total yield varied markedly among treatments and cultivars. Across all varieties, T. harzianum T24 + T42 consistently produced the highest total yield, surpassing the control by 79% in GCTCV 218, 107% in C4, 65% in Baladi, and 198% in the Canarian variety. This multi-scale evaluation demonstrates that T. harzianum is a highly effective biocontrol agent against Fusarium wilt in banana. When combined to resistant or tolerant cultivars such as GCTCV 218, biological control offers a robust and scalable strategy within a bio- intensive integrated pest management strategy to sustain banana production in Foc TR4-affected regions.
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Claims 20
Claim · model-written summary
Foc TR4 was found in 30% of 87 banana fields surveyed on the southern coast of Lebanon
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Interactor
- Foc TR4
_(38100977215).jpg?width=60)
Fusarium odoratissimume1pathogen - Outcome
- Foc TR4e1
- Value
- 30%e1
- Setting
- Lebanon’s southern coaste1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_(38100977215).jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Survey of Lebanon’s southern coast found Foc TR4 in 30% of 87 banana fields”
Claim · model-written summary
Trichoderma harzianum strain T24 gave the highest in vitro growth inhibition of Foc TR4 (74.44%)
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Treatment
- Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (Ascomycota: Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae) strain T24e1
- Interactor
- Foc TR4Fusarium odoratissimume1pathogen
- Second interactor
- Trichoderma harzianum Rifai
Trichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent - Outcome
- growth inhibition of Foc TR4e1
- Direction
- inhibitione1
- Value
- 74.44%e1
- Setting
- Invitro screeninge1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Invitro screening identified Trichoderma harzianum Rifai (Ascomycota: Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae) strain T24 as the most effective antagonist, achieving 74.44% growth inhibition of Foc TR4”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum reduced leaf disease severity index (LDSI) to 25 in greenhouse trials
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Organ / stage
- leafe1
- Treatment
- T. harzianume1
- Interactor
- T. harzianumTrichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- LDSIe1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Value
- 25e1
- Qualifier
- compared to > 90%e1
- Comparator
- untreated controlse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“In greenhouse trials, T. harzianum reduced leaf and rhizome disease severity indices (LDSI and RDSI) to 25 and 42%, respectively compared to > 90% in untreated controls”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum reduced rhizome disease severity index (RDSI) to 42 percent in greenhouse trials
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Organ / stage
- rhizomee1
- Treatment
- T. harzianume1
- Interactor
- T. harzianumTrichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- RDSIe1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Value
- 42%e1
- Qualifier
- compared to > 90%e1
- Comparator
- untreated controlse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“In greenhouse trials, T. harzianum reduced leaf and rhizome disease severity indices (LDSI and RDSI) to 25 and 42%, respectively compared to > 90% in untreated controls”
Claim · model-written summary
The GCTCV-218 banana variety showed the highest resistance to Foc TR4
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“The banana variety ‘GCTCV-218’ (Formosana), a Giant Cavendish tissue-culture variant, exhibited the highest resistance, whereas the Canarian cultivar, a Dwarf Cavendish type (Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’), was the most susceptible”
Claim · model-written summary
The Canarian banana cultivar was the most susceptible to Foc TR4
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“The banana variety ‘GCTCV-218’ (Formosana), a Giant Cavendish tissue-culture variant, exhibited the highest resistance, whereas the Canarian cultivar, a Dwarf Cavendish type (Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’), was the most susceptible”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum fully suppressed endophytic Foc TR4 in local banana cultivars in the first field trial
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Material
- local cultivarse1
- Treatment
- T. harzianume1
- Interactor
- Foc TR4Fusarium odoratissimume1pathogen
- Second interactor
- T. harzianumTrichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- endophytic Foc TR4e1
- Direction
- fully suppressede1
- Setting
- first field triale1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“In the first field trial, T. harzianum fully suppressed endophytic Foc TR4 in local cultivars and improved bunch weight”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum improved bunch weight in the first field trial
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Treatment
- T. harzianume1
- Interactor
- T. harzianumTrichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- bunch weighte1
- Direction
- improvede1
- Setting
- first field triale1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“In the first field trial, T. harzianum fully suppressed endophytic Foc TR4 in local cultivars and improved bunch weight”
Claim · model-written summary
GCTCV 218 produced the heaviest bunches, 30.7 kg
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“GCTCV 218 and Grand Naine, a medium Cavendish cultivar, produced the heaviest bunches (30.7 and 29.6 kg)”
Claim · model-written summary
Grand Naine produced the heaviest bunches, 29.6 kg
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“GCTCV 218 and Grand Naine, a medium Cavendish cultivar, produced the heaviest bunches (30.7 and 29.6 kg)”
Claim · model-written summary
Biocontrol treatments significantly reduced Foc TR4 disease under natural infestation
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Treatment
- different biocontrol treatmentse1
- Interactor
- Foc TR4Fusarium odoratissimume1pathogen
- Outcome
- diseasee1
- Direction
- significantly reducede1
- Qualifier
- Under natural Foc TR4 infestatione1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Under natural Foc TR4 infestation, different biocontrol treatments significantly reduced disease and improved yield”
Claim · model-written summary
Biocontrol treatments improved banana yield under natural Foc TR4 infestation
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Treatment
- different biocontrol treatmentse1
- Interactor
- Foc TR4Fusarium odoratissimume1pathogen
- Outcome
- yielde1
- Direction
- improvede1
- Qualifier
- Under natural Foc TR4 infestatione1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Under natural Foc TR4 infestation, different biocontrol treatments significantly reduced disease and improved yield”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum strains T24 + T42 reduced RDSI to 5% in GCTCV 218
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Material
- GCTCV 218e1
- Treatment
- T. harzianum strains T24 + T42e1
- Interactor
- T. harzianum strains T24 + T42Trichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- RDSIe1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Value
- 5%e1
- Qualifier
- compared to 57 and 82%e1
- Comparator
- their respective controlse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“T. harzianum strains T24 + T42 reduced RDSI to 5% in GCTCV 218 and to 58%in Canary bananas as compared to 57 and 82% in their respective controls”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum strains T24 + T42 reduced RDSI to 58% in Canary bananas
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Material
- Canary bananase1
- Treatment
- T. harzianum strains T24 + T42e1
- Interactor
- T. harzianum strains T24 + T42Trichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- RDSIe1
- Direction
- reducede1
- Value
- 58%e1
- Qualifier
- compared to 57 and 82%e1
- Comparator
- their respective controlse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“T. harzianum strains T24 + T42 reduced RDSI to 5% in GCTCV 218 and to 58%in Canary bananas as compared to 57 and 82% in their respective controls”
Claim · model-written summary
Total yield varied markedly among biocontrol treatments and banana cultivars
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Total yield varied markedly among treatments and cultivars”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum T24 + T42 surpassed the control total yield by 79% in GCTCV 218
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Material
- GCTCV 218e1
- Treatment
- T. harzianum T24 + T42e1
- Interactor
- T. harzianum T24 + T42Trichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- total yielde1
- Direction
- surpassinge1
- Value
- 79%e1
- Qualifier
- consistently produced the highest total yielde1
- Comparator
- the controle1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Across all varieties, T. harzianum T24 + T42 consistently produced the highest total yield, surpassing the control by 79% in GCTCV 218, 107% in C4, 65% in Baladi, and 198% in the Canarian variety”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum T24 + T42 surpassed the control total yield by 107% in C4
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Material
- C4e1
- Treatment
- T. harzianum T24 + T42e1
- Interactor
- T. harzianum T24 + T42Trichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- total yielde1
- Direction
- surpassinge1
- Value
- 107%e1
- Qualifier
- consistently produced the highest total yielde1
- Comparator
- the controle1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Across all varieties, T. harzianum T24 + T42 consistently produced the highest total yield, surpassing the control by 79% in GCTCV 218, 107% in C4, 65% in Baladi, and 198% in the Canarian variety”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum T24 + T42 surpassed the control total yield by 65% in Baladi
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Material
- Baladie1
- Treatment
- T. harzianum T24 + T42e1
- Interactor
- T. harzianum T24 + T42Trichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- total yielde1
- Direction
- surpassinge1
- Value
- 65%e1
- Qualifier
- consistently produced the highest total yielde1
- Comparator
- the controle1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Across all varieties, T. harzianum T24 + T42 consistently produced the highest total yield, surpassing the control by 79% in GCTCV 218, 107% in C4, 65% in Baladi, and 198% in the Canarian variety”
Claim · model-written summary
T. harzianum T24 + T42 surpassed the control total yield by 198% in the Canarian variety
- Taxon
- bananae0
- Material
- Canarian varietye1
- Treatment
- T. harzianum T24 + T42e1
- Interactor
- T. harzianum T24 + T42Trichoderma harzianume1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- total yielde1
- Direction
- surpassinge1
- Value
- 198%e1
- Qualifier
- consistently produced the highest total yielde1
- Comparator
- the controle1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“Across all varieties, T. harzianum T24 + T42 consistently produced the highest total yield, surpassing the control by 79% in GCTCV 218, 107% in C4, 65% in Baladi, and 198% in the Canarian variety”
Claim · model-written summary
Biological control combined with resistant or tolerant cultivars is recommended as a robust, scalable strategy
Verbatim
e0“Banana is a major global fruit crop”
e1“biological control offers a robust and scalable strategy”
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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.