Identification of sources resistant to a virulent Fusarium wilt strain (VCG 0124) infecting Cavendish bananas

R Thangavelu,R Swennen,R Swennen,N Marimuthu,M Loganathan,M S Saraswathi,P Durai,S Backiyarani,S Uma,G Kannan,E Edwin Raj

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-82666-7

R Thangavelu, R Swennen + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82666-7

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Abstract

Bananas are vital for food security in many countries, and half of banana production relies solely on ‘Cavendish’ (AAA), which is presently threatened by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4. This particular virulent Foc strain was also found to attack other banana varieties of commercial importance. As there is no single effective management practice available so far, this study was undertaken to determine resistant sources from the genotype collection available at the ICAR-National Research Centre for Banana, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India for direct use by farmers and/or in breeding programmes to develop resistant hybrids. A total of 258 genotypes of different ploidies and genomic constitutions were tested against Foc race 1 (VCG 0124). In total, 19 genotypes (AA Unique-6, BB type-2, AAA Unique-1, AAA Cavendish-1, AAB Mysore-3, AAB Pome-1, AAB Plantain-4 and AAAB-1) were found to be immune; eight genotypes (AA Unique-1, BB type-3, AAA Cavendish-1, AAB Mysore-1, AAB Unique-1, AAB Plantain-1) were highly resistant; and nine genotypes (AA Unique-1, AAA Cavendish-3, AAB Silk-1, AAB Pome-4) were resistant. The genotypes that are resistant to the virulent Foc race 1 (VCG 0124) strain can be exploited directly for commercialization and/or in breeding programs to develop resistant hybrids.

Highlights

Bananas are vital for food security in many countries, and half of banana production relies solely on ‘Cavendish’ (AAA), which is presently threatened by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp
A total of 258 genotypes belonging to different genomic groups of bananas were included in the disease screening under glasshouse and field conditions against Foc race 1 to accomplish the formulated objectives
The dwarf variant of Cavendish, Dwarf Parfitt and GCTCV 1 1914,28 were resistant to Foc TR4, while the present study showed resistance to Foc race 1

Summary

Introduction

Bananas are vital for food security in many countries, and half of banana production relies solely on ‘Cavendish’ (AAA), which is presently threatened by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. The genotypes that are resistant to the virulent Foc race 1 (VCG 0124) strain can be exploited directly for commercialization and/or in breeding programs to develop resistant hybrids. Banana is one of the most important fruits and the eighth-most important food, with ~ 148 million tons produced from 135 countries. It provides staple food for > 400 million people worldwide and is vital for food security. anana[1], the entire global banana industry relies solely on Cavendish varieties (subgroup AAA) with ~ 50 million tons of annual production[2]. More than 20 varieties are commercially grown in different parts of India, Cavendish alone occupies 57% of the total area under banana cultivation[4]

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