Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4
Rachel Meldrum PhD Candidate biosecurity built on science Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity
Fusarium wilt Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense 3 races: race 1, race 2, race 4 - Race 3 is pathogenic to Heliconia spp.
Race 4 infects Cavendish - ‘Subtropical’ race 4 - ‘Tropical’ race 4 (TR4) biosecurity built on science
Symptoms
Internal symptoms
External symptoms biosecurity built on science
Disease cycle Formation of chlamydospores Death of plant: chlamydospores into soil Colonisation of spores in xylem Germination of chlamydospores in soil Infection of roots Inoculum applied biosecurity built on science
Distribution  International - South East Asia - 1980s+
 Australia - Northern Territory - 1997+
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International
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Impact Malaysia and Indonesia production destroyed NT production decline Similar climate and terrain in NQ - ????
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Research Project 1. Banana weevil borer 2. Surface sterilants 3. Alternative hosts 4. Gene analysis biosecurity built on science
Research Project  1. Banana weevil borer - Vector pathogen?
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Banana Weevil Borer Banana weevil borer - (Cosmopolites sordidus)
Inhabit banana plantations internationally
1cm
Transport pathogen? biosecurity built on science
Research Project  2. Surface sterilants - Effect on Foc TR4 spores
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Surface Sterilants  Exposure time 30s
100
1min
80
Water Farmcleanse Bleach Sporekill
15min
40 20 0
30s 15min
Fa W rm a cl ter ea ns e B le S ach po re ki ll
-
5min
60
Graph showing the effect on Foc TR4 spores exposed to surface sterilants for various times
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Research Project  3. Alternative hosts - Cover crops?
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Disease cycle Formation of chlamydospores Death of plant: chlamydospores into soil Colonisation of spores in xylem Germination of chlamydospores in soil Infection of roots Inoculum applied
Banana biosecurity built on science
Disease cycle Formation of chlamydospores Death of plant: chlamydospores into soil Colonisation of spores in xylem Germination of chlamydospores in soil Infection of roots Inoculum applied
Sorghum biosecurity built on science
Research Project  4. Gene analysis - Pathogenicity genes
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Foc 01213/16
Foc 0120
Foc 01211
Foc 0129
Foc 0128
Foc 0125
Foc 0124/5
Foc 0124
Pathogenicity genes
SIX1 gene
SIX7 gene
SIX8 gene
Meldrum et al. (2012) The presence of putative pathogenicity genes in isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense from Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology. 1-7, DOI: 10.1007/s13313-012-0122-x
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Foc 01213/16
Foc 0120
Foc 01211
Foc 0129
Foc 0128
Foc 0125
Foc 0124/5
Foc 0124
Pathogenicity genes
SIX1 gene: General pathogenicity gene
SIX7 gene: Race 4 specific gene
SIX8 gene: Race 4 specific gene
Meldrum et al. (2012) The presence of putative pathogenicity genes in isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense from Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology. 1-7, DOI: 10.1007/s13313-012-0122-x
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Acknowledgments - Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity - Northern Territory Government (Department of Resources) - University of Queensland
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Thank you  For more information, please email r.meldrum@crcplantbiosecurity.com.au
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