Epidemiology and agro-ecology of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense

The recurrence of Panama disease i.e. Foc TR4 alarmed the international research and policymaking communities on bananas. The recent damage by TR4 is remarkable in Southeast Asia as it destroy banana intended for domestic and international trade (Molina et al., 2009; Ploetz, 2005, 2008) and future economic damage maybe worse. With this, development of most suitable disease management strategy is of great interest. At present the only successful way of controlling the disease is through eradication and exclusion measures to prevent the further spread. Other control measures have not yielded the desired results due to meagre understanding of the dynamics of inoculum dispersal and epidemiology. My research project targeted on the development of DNA-based Foc TR4 (and other Foc variants) diagnostic on plant tissue, water and soil based on LAMP technology for rapid in-field support and quantitative PCR. The latter will be of great help in tracking, tracing or mapping Foc TR4 infestation in banana and non-banana soils, contamination in water, farm tools and equipments and in symptomless banana plants, weeds and other plants growing in or surround banana plantations. Also, the developed diagnostic tool will be used to measure the efficacy of any management practices such as anaerobic soil disinfestation or biological control microorganisms. This research will result in the (1) implementation of Foc TR4 (and other Foc variants) DNA-based detection tools based on LAMP technology for rapid in situ detection and (2) quantitative diagnostic tool indispensable in charting the advancement and direction of Foc distribution and quantify the efficacy of any Foc management practices (3) identification of basic epidemiological parameters such as analyses of weeds and other alternative plant host contributing to risk and disease management at various spatial scales (4) application of anaerobic soil disinfestations for site-specific disease management. In the broader view, this will contribute to the development of TR4 contingency plans for Latin America, Africa and regional settings in Southeast Asia.