Prevention and management of Fusarium wilt

Code:

ATN/RF-18761-RG

Initiative:

Joint proyects

FONTAGRO Amount:

USD 406.000

Counterpart Amount:

USD 978.298

Execution time

48 Months

Total Amount:

USD 1.784.298

Participating countries:

United States

Colombia

Costa Rica

Dominican Republic Ecuador

Ecuador

Nicaragua

Panama

Bolivia

Paraguay

Peru

Funding source:

FONTAGRO Amount 23% Other agencies 22% Counterpart Amount 55%

Executive Summary

Musaceae (plantain and banana) are considered one of the most popular fruits in the world and are among the top ten food products. Bananas are an export item of great importance for Latin America and the Caribbean and, therefore, a fundamental pillar of the economy. The cultivation of plantain is also the basis of the daily diet of the population and the generation and diversification of income. About 85% of producers are small and their production is destined for local trade.

Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc TR4), is one of the most devastating musaceae diseases. Annual economic losses from Foc TR4 have been estimated at USD 121 million in Indonesia, USD 253 million in Taiwan, and USD 14 million in Malaysia. To date, there is no effective control for Foc TR4, so research and development of technologies to control the pathogen and prevent dispersal inside and outside of plots and farms is essential. This project aims to strengthen capacities for the prevention and management of Fusarium wilt in Latin America and the Caribbean, through: 1) standardization of diagnostic methods, 2) evaluation of biosafety and soil management practices with emphasis on biological control, 3) evaluation of new varieties for their resistance to Foc TR4, and 4) transfer of knowledge and technologies generated to farmers.

View Seed Fund

The technological solution

The project will generate knowledge and technology to reduce the possible impact of Foc TR4 in Latin America and the Caribbean, through the development of an effective diagnostic methodology, biosafety practices and soil management, with emphasis on biological control for pathogen suppression , the identification of plantain and banana varieties resistant to Foc TR4, and the transfer of technology to small and medium producers for the prevention, containment and management of Fusarium wilt.

Results

Generate a standardized and validated molecular diagnostic methodology for the identification of Foc TR4 in symptomatic and asymptomatic samples and environmental samples (soil and water).
Develop at least two technologies for the prevention and management of Foc TR4.
Identify biosecurity and soil management practices that enable a reduction in the incidence of Fusarium and its variations at the local level.
Increase banana production by at least 5% with the use of developed technology.
Directly train at least 11,102 people between producers, technicians, and researchers.

Beneficiaries

10,852 small and medium producers of plantain and bananas in the Region.
250 scientist-technicians from the participating institutions.
70,252 farmers in the Region (indirectly).

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

BlogDialogue on practice: In vitro musaceae propagation, genetic improvement and biological control programs against Foc R4T

01/12/2022

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Participating Organizations

Executor

Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA) - Colombia

Co-executor

Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP) - Ecuador
Instituto de Innovación Agropecuaria de Panamá (IDIAP) - Panamá
Fundación para el Fomento y Promoción de la Investigación y Transferencia de Tecnología Agropecuaria (FITTACORI) - Costa Rica
Instituto Nacional de Innovación y Transferencia en Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Costa Rica
Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Agropecuarias y Forestales (IDIAF) - República Dominicana
Instituto Nicaragüense de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) - Nicaragua
Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA) - Costa Rica

Associated

Agencia de Control Fito y Zoosanitario (AGROCALIDAD) - Ecuador
Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agropecuaria y Forestal (INIAF) - Bolivia
Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA) - Perú
Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA Paraguay) - Paraguay
Asociación de Bananeros del Magdalena y la Guajira (ASBAMA) - Colombia
Asociación de Bananeros de Colombia (AUGURA) - Colombia
Organismo Internacional Regional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (OIRSA) - El Salvador
Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe para la Investigación y Desarrollo de las Musaceas (MUSALAC) - Costa Rica
Alianza Internacional Bioversity - CIAT (Alianza Internacional Bioversity - CIAT) - Colombia