Fusarium wilt TR4: Banana Covid hits plantations across globe
Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Agriculture; Biotechnology
In News:
Fusarium wilt TR4, a novel fungus strain, has devastated banana plantations across the globe.
Its new hotspots have been found in India too which is threatening output.
Key takeaways
The strain, Tropical Race 4 (TR4), was first identified in Taiwan.
It cripples plantations by first attacking the leaves, which turn yellow from their trailing edges before wilting away.
There is no effective remedy yet.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), TR4 is one of the most destructive of all plant diseases.
It has infected the most commonly sold variety: Grand Nain (musa acuminata), a curvy yellow fruit.
Scientists recommend biosecurity measures such as plant quarantine, bio priming to slow its spread.
In India, hotspots have been found in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
Inability to contain TR4 could jolt farm incomes and push up banana prices.
It has already jeopardised the $26 billion global banana trade.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has asked farmers to abandon farms whose plantations have been affected .
They must grow rice for a year or two before returning to growing bananas. That way the chain gets broken.
Important value additions
Fusarium wilt
It is a common vascular wilt fungal disease.
It is caused by Fusarium oxysporum.
Hosts: Tomato, tobacco, legumes, cucurbits, sweet potatoes and banana
It is not new.
It entirely wiped out Gros Michel, the dominant export variety of bananas in 1950s.
It was in response to this that a new resistant variety, Grand Nain, came up.
Bio-priming
It is a new technique of seed treatment that integrates biological (inoculation of seed with beneficial organism to protect seed) and physiological aspects (seed hydration) of disease control.
It is used as an alternative method for controlling many seed-borne and soil-borne pathogens.
Bananas
India is the world’s largest producer of bananas.
It is the world’s most globally exported fruit, according to the FAO.
