Grant Award View - GA58414
Safeguarding the Ecuador Banana Industry against Fusarium Wilt TR4
- GA58414-V1 - Project partner in Ecuador proposed to move location of the workshop due to local unrest situation. (13-Nov-2019 )
Fusarium wilt TR4 is a lethal disease which affects more than 50% of the banana crop worldwide. The disease is caused by a soil-borne fungus which spreads through soil, water and infected plant material. There is no effective chemical control for TR4 and there are no commercially acceptable resistant cultivars available to replace vulnerable varieties, which includes Cavendish.
In 2019, TR4 was identified for the first time in Latin America (Colombia). This incursion poses a serious threat to the major banana exporting industries based in Latin America. Ecuador is the largest global banana exporter. To respond quickly and effectively in the event of a TR4 incursion, rapid and accurate detection of the disease is critical.
Scientists from Queensland University of Technology with expertise in TR4 detection techniques will conduct a workshop in Ecuador to provide hands-on training to local scientists on TR4 detection. This will strengthen the Ecuadorian technical capacity in laboratory diagnosis of TR4 and better equip the country to face the threat of the introduction of TR4.