Evaluation of different banana genotypes for resistance to panama disease

Abstract

Panama disease, or fusarium wilt disease, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense is a disease causing great losses in banana production worldwide, hindering production in certain areas of the world. In Brazil, banana crop has suffered great losses due to favorable soil and climate conditions for the development of pests and diseases and, also, by the low technological level used in most growing areas of the country. Therefore, the use of genetic resistance for the control of this disease becomes a promising alternative, making possible the cultivation of bananas in some areas that had been decimated by this pathogen. Thus, this study evaluated the performance of banana genotypes subjected to artificial inoculation with F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense in a nursery and in the field. The genotypes Tropical, Pacovan, Caipira, Japira, Princesa and Fhia-18, besides 'Prata Anã', as a susceptible control, were evaluated in a completely randomized design, with 4 replications, and each replication consisted of two plants. The seedling were also subjected to a field test in a completely randomized design, with three replications. Disease severity, for external symptoms, was evaluated 50 days after inoculation, using a rating scale in which, all plants, except for Fhia-18, which did not show symptoms, had initial yellowing of older leaves. Field evaluations consisted of measuring plant height and diameter, and after harvesting the banana bunches, internal symptoms were observed in the pseudostems. Cultivars Prata-Anã and Caipira had greater susceptibility to the disease.