Fusarium wilt of banana: biology, epidemiology and management

Fusarium oxysporum is a soil borne hyphomycete that causes vascular wilts in several crop plants. A variety of remedial measures such as the use of fungicides, soil amendments and biological antagonists have proved insufficient in controlling F. oxysporum. Ever since it was first reported in banana crop, the only effective control strategy known is planting of resistant cultivars. However, presumably due to the high mutation rates and rapid co-evolution with its host, Fusarium wilt has surmounted host defense barriers and has already begun infecting even the resistant Cavendish varieties that dominate export markets worldwide. Transgenic banana plants showing enhanced resistance to Fusarium wilt have been developed in recent past, but they remain largely confined to the laboratory. The importance of banana as source of food and income in developing countries world over and the need to develop Fusarium wilt tolerant cultivars by novel biotechnological approaches is detailed herein. In this communication, we review the biology and management of Fusarium wilt in banana with the aim of providing the baseline of information to encourage much needed research on integrated management of this destructive banana crop disease problem.