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The fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis affects bananas. This fungus was first found in the Sigatoka valley on the Vitu Levu island of the Republic of Fiji. This is why the disease is often called Black Sigatoka.
In this program we investigate which factors enable the fungus to infect banana and how the fungus is disseminating. The diversity of fungal populations in banana plantations is described by means of genetic fingerprints and their capacity to survive after spraying plant protection products.
This is highly relevant as this fungus is so aggressive that weekly fungicide sprays are necessary throughout the year.
The fungus grows very slowly. Rapid detection methods are very important and help us to determine whether a plant is infected by the disease. The development of fluorescent fungal strains helps us to understand pathogenesis. We also investigate genes in the fungus that aid pathogenicity. That is why the DNA of the fungus has been mapped and unravelled. |
" Black Sigatoka" in bananas
(Click on the picture to enlarge) |
Improving disease resistance in banana by classical breeding is very difficult. In view of the major disease problems worldwide, our program also focuses on generating genomic information to increase natural plant resistance. We look for resistance in wild bananas that can be exploited in new cultivars. Hence, we enrich ‘our’ banana with available natural characteristics to avoid excessive pesticide applications and to develop a sustainable banana production.
The overall program is the International Pesticides Reduction Programme for Banana. This program also comprises research into microscopic worms affecting banana roots as well as soil fertility and social aspects of banana production. Besides, we integrate existing practices and develop new biological methods for disease control. Fusarium wilt or Panama disease, a worldwide threat to banana production, is a new part of our program.
Our main partners in the banana program are the Brazilian research organisation Embrapa, with whom we started the MusaForever strategic alliance, the University of Leuven in Belgium, Corbana in Costa Rica, CIRAD in France and Bioversity International. The banana program is funded by the Dioraphte Foundation, foundation Het Groene Woudt, the Common Fund for Commodities, and ICCO.