Abstract
AimsThis study looks whether the response of soil management (liming and nitrogen fertilization) on the incidence of Fusarium wilt (Foc Race 1) in Gros Michel banana (Musa AAA) varies with different soil properties.MethodsThe effect of inoculation with Foc Race 1 was studied in a factorial greenhouse trial with soil samples from eight representative soil types from the Costa Rican banana region, two pH levels; and three levels of N-fertilization. After an 8-week period, plant biomass and a disease index were measured.ResultsThere were significant effects of soil pH and N, and their interactions on disease expression. Low pH levels and high N-fertilization increased the disease expression. The response to changes in soil pH and N-fertilization differed considerably between the different soils.ConclusionsAlthough soil pH and N influence Fusarium wilt in banana, each soil differs in its response to these soil properties. This complicates the development of standard soil management strategies in terms of e.g., N-fertilization and liming to mitigate or fight the disease.
Highlights
IntroductionFusarium wilt of banana (FWB), known as ‘Panama disease’ (caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense or Foc), is one of the most critical diseases affecting banana production
Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB), known as ‘Panama disease’, is one of the most critical diseases affecting banana production
Bananas grown on soils from the West and Turrialba showed the best mean performance with the plants grown on p Hhigh being significantly (P < 0.001) larger than plants grown on p Hlow
Summary
Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB), known as ‘Panama disease’ (caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense or Foc), is one of the most critical diseases affecting banana production. Foc Race 1 devastated the subgroup Gros Michel (Musa AAA), which was the main cultivar exported from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) during the first half of the 20th century (Ploetz and Churchill 2011; Pocasangre et al 2017; Dita et al 2018; Magdama et al 2020). Foc Race 1 remains a serious problem in small-scale production systems in LAC where the specific traits of the Gros Michel banana are preferred (Pocasangre et al 2011). The gradual shift of the production systems to the cultivars of the subgroup Cavendish (Musa AAA), which are resistant to Foc Race 1, was a temporary solution to the. The spread of Foc TR4 in LAC would have a tremendous impact given the economic and social importance of banana production in the region (Aurore et al 2009; Pocasangre et al 2011; Dita et al 2013)
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