Info:Panama Disease
From Bananas Wiki
| Revision as of 10:30, 31 August 2006 (edit) CanadianCaesar (Talk) (Reverted edits by Johnny Bigballs (talk) to last version by Dale Arnett) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 00:12, 2 January 2007 (edit) MediaHound (Talk | contribs) Next diff → |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| - | '''Panama disease''', also known as '''Fusarium wilt''', is a [[banana]] [[phytopathology|plant disease]] caused by the [[fungus]] ''[[Fusarium oxysporum]]''. The fungus attacks the roots of the banana plant. The disease is resistant to [[fungicide]] and, so, cannot be controlled chemically. | + | '''Panama disease''', also known as '''Fusarium wilt''', is a [[banana]] plant disease caused by the [[fungus]] ''Fusarium oxysporum''. The fungus attacks the roots of the banana plant. The disease is resistant to fungicide and cannot be controlled chemically. |
| + | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| - | [[Gros Michel]] or 'Big Mike' was an early export [[cultivar]] of banana. This cultivar was wiped out by Panama disease in the [[1950s]]. The disease first appeared in [[Suriname]], then made its way to the [[Caribbean]], and by the 1920s, to [[Honduras]], the world's largest producer of bananas at the time. Although there are many banana [[cultivar]]s, Gros Michel was especially suitable for export to non-tropical nations. A search for a substitute located the [[Vietnam|Vietnamese]] [[Cavendish banana|Cavendish]] cultivar which is resistant to the disease. However, more care is required for shipping the Cavendish banana and its quality compared to Gros Michel is debated. | + | [[Gros Michel]], or 'Big Mike', was an early export [[cultivar]] of banana. This cultivar was wiped out by Panama disease in the 1950s. The disease first appeared in Suriname, then made its way to the Caribbean, and by the 1920s, to Honduras - the world's largest producer of bananas at the time. Although there are many banana cultivars, Gros Michel was especially suitable for export to non-tropical nations. A search for a substitute located the Vietnamese [[Cavendish]] cultivar, which is resistant to the disease. However, more care is required for shipping the Cavendish banana, and it's quality compared to Gros Michel is debated. |
| - | Recently, a new strain called 'tropical race four Panama disease' has begun to attack Cavendish banana plants in [[south Asia]]. Given the high volume of modern [[international trade]], banana producers expect this strain to spread through [[Africa]] and into [[South America]] and the [[Caribbean]]. | + | Recently, a new strain called 'tropical race four Panama disease' has begun to attack Cavendish banana plants in south Asia. Given the high volume of modern international trade, banana producers expect this strain to spread through Africa and into South America and the Caribbean. |
| - | [[crop breeding|Plant breeder]]s and [[genetics|geneticist]]s are trying to develop new cultivars that are resistant to this new strain of Panama disease. Unfortunately, such efforts are progressing slowly because the banana cultivars selected for human consumption are seedless and reproduce [[asexual reproduction|asexually]] which decreases [[gene pool|genetic variation]] and makes breeding difficult. | + | Plant breeders and geneticists are trying to develop new cultivars that are resistant to this new strain of Panama disease. Unfortunately, such efforts are progressing slowly because the banana cultivars selected for human consumption are seedless and reproduce asexually which decreases genetic variation and makes breeding difficult. |
| ==Resources== | ==Resources== | ||
| * [http://www.inibap.org/ International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP)] | * [http://www.inibap.org/ International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP)] | ||
| - | |||
| - | [[Category:Plant diseases]] | ||
| - | |||
| - | [[es:Enfermedad de Panamá]] | ||
| - | [[nl:Panamaziekte]] | ||
| - | [[pt:Mal-do-panamá]] | ||
Revision as of 00:12, 2 January 2007
Panama disease, also known as Fusarium wilt, is a banana plant disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The fungus attacks the roots of the banana plant. The disease is resistant to fungicide and cannot be controlled chemically.
History
Gros Michel, or 'Big Mike', was an early export cultivar of banana. This cultivar was wiped out by Panama disease in the 1950s. The disease first appeared in Suriname, then made its way to the Caribbean, and by the 1920s, to Honduras - the world's largest producer of bananas at the time. Although there are many banana cultivars, Gros Michel was especially suitable for export to non-tropical nations. A search for a substitute located the Vietnamese Cavendish cultivar, which is resistant to the disease. However, more care is required for shipping the Cavendish banana, and it's quality compared to Gros Michel is debated.
Recently, a new strain called 'tropical race four Panama disease' has begun to attack Cavendish banana plants in south Asia. Given the high volume of modern international trade, banana producers expect this strain to spread through Africa and into South America and the Caribbean.
Plant breeders and geneticists are trying to develop new cultivars that are resistant to this new strain of Panama disease. Unfortunately, such efforts are progressing slowly because the banana cultivars selected for human consumption are seedless and reproduce asexually which decreases genetic variation and makes breeding difficult.
