"INA 03", Promising Banana Cultivar for Fusarium Wilt Control

Panama disease is one of important banana diseases which is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc). This disease is very difficult to be controlled due to its spread that can be occurred easily through soil, water, planting material and human activities. Various methods of diseases controls have been applied both technical practices and biological control. However, biological control in the laboratory scale that has been proven effective, not necessarily effective in the field. In addition, it must also be economical in its application. The use of resistant cultivar is an alternative to overcome the fusarium wilt. In order to produce fusarium resistant cultivar, Indonesia Tropical Fruit Research Institute (ITFRI) has carried out banana conventional breeding since 2000. Currently, one banana hybrid has been obtained and proven to be resistant to fusarium wilt on the field, namely INA 03. In addition, this hybrid INA 03 also has superior characteristics, such as semi-dwarf stature with a height between 2-2.5 m, and high TSS reaching 29 Brix. After going through several stages of evaluation INA 03 has been registered as a new superior cultivar, so it can be distributed in the farmers.