Banana Varieties and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense in Indonesia - Observations from Fusarium Wilt Disease Databases

Genetically related populations of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) are defined by vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs). In 2006, the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (Qld DEEDI), the Indonesian government and Bioversity International commenced an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project which included a study of the geographical distribution of Foc in Indonesia. Relationships that existed between different banana varieties and Foc VCGs were also assessed. We consulted two global databases that contain records of Foc disease samples: the Qld DEEDI database and that maintained at the University of Florida in Homestead. Information from these sources suggested that: (i) Most varieties are susceptible to tropical race 4 (TR4) (VCG 01213); (ii) 'Gros Michel' (AAA), 'Silk' (AAB) and 'Saba' (ABB) are each susceptible to several VCGs; (iii) Some varieties tend to have certain VCGs associated with them; and (iv) 'Sucrier' (AA) and 'Lakatan' (AAA) are only affected by TR4. Although a greater understanding of these relationships would require pathogenicity studies with representative isolates of the different VCGs, these observations reinforce prior concerns over VCG 01213 and its continued spread in Asia. Future collections of this pathogen should be accompanied by photos of the sample plant to ensure that varieties are identified correctly.