DNA-sequencing and pathogenicity tests confirmed that the Colombian isolates belong to what has been previously defined as the Fusarium odoratissimum TR4 lineage, that causes Fusarium wilt known as Panama disease. These analyses provided final proof that TR4 has indeed reached Colombia.

An international research team, including Michael Seidl, has scientifically confirmed the presence in Colombia of the fungus Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4), the cause of Panama disease in Cavendish bananas. The findings are published in an open source article in the journal Plant Disease.

Publication

First report of Fusarium wilt in Cavendish bananas caused by Fusarium odoratissimum Tropical Race 4 in Colombia F.A. García-Bastidas, J.C. Quintero-Vargas, M. Ayala-Vasquez, T. Schermer*, M.F. Seidl*, M. Santos-Paiva, A.M. Noguera, C. Aguilera-Galvez, A. Wittenberg, R. Hofstede A. Sørensen, G.H.J. Kema Plant Disease, 16 October 2019, DOI 10.1094/PDIS-09-19-1922-PDN
*Authors affiliated with Utrecht University

Link to Wageningen University and Research Article on this collaboration. (in Dutch)

** Photo: Source Wageningen University and Research