Screening of exotic banana accessions for their resistance to fusarium wilt race 1 and tropical race 4 in India

TitleScreening of exotic banana accessions for their resistance to fusarium wilt race 1 and tropical race 4 in India
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2025
AuthorsThangavelu R, Loganathan M, Backiyarani S, Saraswathi MS, Uma S, Edwinraj E, Durai P, Nithya B, Roux N, Selvarajan R
JournalScientific Reports
Volume15
Pagination25060
Abstract

Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is one of the most destructive diseases affecting global banana production. Foc Race 1 (Foc R1) and Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) are particularly destructive and lethal, impacting both Cavendish and local commercial cultivars. Deploying resistant varieties is crucial for managing this disease in commercial cultivation. This study evaluated 99 exotic banana accessions from the International Transit Centre (ITC), Belgium, representing diverse genomic groups to identify resistant sources within the banana gene pool. The accessions were assessed against both Foc R1 and Foc TR4 under glasshouse and hotspot field conditions. Disease severity was assessed using rhizome discoloration at harvest. The results of the study indicated significant variation across genome groups, test conditions, and Foc races (P < 0.001). Out of 99 accessions, 63 exhibited either an increase or decrease in resistance level in accessions between the test conditions, while 36 remained stable. Similarly, 68 accessions showed shifts between the tested races, while 31 remained stable. In the field evaluation of Foc R1, 19 accessions were immune, 13 highly resistant, and 17 were resistant, whereas in the glasshouse, only one accession was immune, nine were highly resistant, and 46 were resistant, indicating a greater resistance response under controlled conditions. For Foc TR4, 18 accessions were immune, nine highly resistant, and 19 were resistant in the field, whereas in the glasshouse, one was immune, 30 were highly resistant, and 50 were resistant, demonstrating a notable shift in resistance levels between environments. Some of these banana accessions show potential for direct commercial deployment in Fusarium wilt hot spot areas and/or could be used to identify resistant genes to further improve commercial cultivars through genetic engineering or gene editing techniques.

DOI10.1038/s41598-025-10843-z
Showing 19 of 99 accessions
Accession Name Pictures Accession number Species / Group SubSpecies / SubGroup Origin Collection Available for distribution
Kluai Namwa Khom ITC0526 ABB subgr. Pisang Awak Unknown ITC
Karau 2
ITC1928 AA Unknown Papua New Guinea ITC
Pisang Tongat
ITC0063 AA Unknown Unknown ITC
Pisang Lemak Manis
ITC1183 AAA Unknown Unknown ITC
Pisang Berangan
ITC1287 AAA Unknown Unknown ITC
2390-2
ITC0553 AAAA Unknown Jamaica ITC
PV03-44
ITC1262 AAAB Unknown Nigeria ITC
FHIA-21
ITC1306 AAAB Unknown Honduras ITC
Cardaba
ITC0394 ABB Unknown Unknown ITC
Musa acuminata (11/9-02)
ITC1520 acuminata Unknown Indonesia ITC
Pahang x
ITC0727 acuminata Unknown Unknown ITC
Singapuri
ITC0248 balbisiana Unknown Unknown ITC
Kelong Mekintu
ITC0200 AAB subgr. Plantain Unknown ITC
Musa laterita
ITC0627 laterita subsp. laterita Unknown ITC
Popoulou
ITC0335 AAB subgr. Maia Maoli/Popoulu Unknown ITC
Monthan
ITC0046 ABB subgr. Monthan Unknown ITC
Rajapuri India
ITC0280 AAB subgr. Nadan Unknown ITC
Musa ornata
ITC0637 ornata subsp. ornata Unknown ITC
Pisang Buntal
ITC0480 AA subgr. Sucrier Malaysia ITC

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