R & D Session – Protecting ourfarms, securing our future:

Containing TR4

Professor Altus ViljoenStellenbosch University

DAY 1 – CHANGE

Department of Plant Pathology

Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences

Altus Viljoen and Agustin MolinaStellenbosch University, South AfricaBioversity International, Philippines

altus@sun.ac.za

Foc TR4 in north Queensland:Destroy …. or be destroyed

Contents

• Brief introduction to banana Fusarium wilt• History of Fusarium wilt• Global status of Fusarium wilt (Foc TR4)• Foc TR4 in Mozambique• The threat of Foc TR4 to Africa• Management of banana Fusarium wilt

• Early detection and identification• Containment• Means to manage the disease

• Global programme on banana Fusarium wilt• Conclusion

Panama disease in Central America

What is killing our bananas?

Brandes, 1919

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense

Infection biology and symptomology

1st plantingsin Jamaica

1835

Gros Michelto New World

1st plantingsin Costa Rica

1874

1st bananaboat to USA

1888

PD

1890

Establishmentof UFC

1898

CentralAmericanrailway

1850

1st plantingsin Panama

1866

1800 1900

Bowden

Keith

The Gros Michel era: 1866-1962

BELIZE

PANAMA

HAITI

Gulf of Mexico

Pacific Ocean

GUATEMALA

HONDURAS

EL SALVADORNICARAGUA

COSTA RICA

CUBA

CAYMANISLANDS

JAMAICA

THEBAHAMAS

DOMINICANREPUBLIC

PUERTORICO

MARTINIQUEST. LUCIA

GRENADA

TRINIDAD ANDTOBAGO

ST. VINCENT ANDTHE GRENADINESCaribbean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

GUYANA

1906

1907

1908

1913

1916

1919

1926

1930

1910

1910

19291890

1890

1903

SURINAMEVENENZUELACOLOMBIA

Fusarium wilt in Central America

Gros Michel conversion to Cavendish• 1890: First cases of Fusarium wilt of Gros Michel

• 1910: Serious losses of Gros Michel resulted in research

• 1922: Cavendish bananas found resistant to Foc in LAN

UFC persisted with Gros Michel to block competitors

• 1926: First hybrid (IC-1) with resistance to Foc in LAN

• 1947: Costa Rica ran out of new land for planting

• 1950: UFC introduces flood fallowing

Company president Zemurray ordered UFCs

Cavendish germplasm collection to be destroyed

• 1956: Costa Rica stopped export of bananas

Standard Fruit began planting Cavendish in Costa Rica

Introduction of banana boxes by Standard Fruit

• 1962: United Fruit converts Gros Michel to Cavendish

Slide: R.C. Ploetz

Not a single Cavendish plant has died in Central America as aresult of Fusarium wilt caused by Foc race 1

Ulua Valley, Honduras - 1994

Fusarium wilt on Cavendish

Subtropics:•1926: Canary Islands•1940: South Africa•1953: Australia•1967: Taiwan

Tropics:•1950s: Jamaica•1970s: Philippines•1980s: Guadeloupe

Stre

ssed

pla

nts

No

stre

ss

• 1990: Malaysia• 1990: Indonesia• 1997: Australia• 1998: China• 2006: Philippines

Fusarium wilt: Races in Foc

Race 1 ‘Gros Michel’ (AAA), ‘Silk’ (AAB),‘Pome’ (AAB), ‘Pisang Awak’ (ABB)

‘Bluggoe’ (ABB)

Heliconia species

Cavendish (AAA), ‘Pisang Mas’ (AA),cvs susceptible to Foc races 1 and 2

Race 2

Race 3

Race 4

“tropical”

“sub-tropical”

Vegetative compatibility in Foc

Slide: R.C. Ploetz

Slide: L. Smith

Distribution of Foc VCGs in Asia

Banana production in Asia• More than 150 varieties (62% of global

cultivation) are grown in Asia

• India is the largest producer of bananas,with an annual production of 25 milliontonnes

• China is the world’s largest producer ofCavendish bananas (9 million tons p.a.)

• Most of Asia’s bananas are consumedlocally, but the region has also producesbananas for export

• Cultivars differ from one country to another,depending on adaptability and marketpreferences• India, China, Taiwan and The Philippines have

extensive Cavendish industries• Countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia

and Indonesia grow local varieties

Banana Fusarium wilt in The Philippines

• The Philippines is the second largestexporter of bananas

• Cavendish cultivars accounting for about51% of national banana production, Saba29%, Lakatan 10% and Latundan about 11%.

• More than 80% of the bananas (and 99% ofthe Cavendish cultivars) are produced inMindanao.

• 2001: Cavendish bananas in the highlandsseverely affected by Fusarium wilt

• 2003: Sporadic cases observed in lowlands

• 2005: Significant increase in lowlands

• 2013: Small-scale growers severelyaffected

FujianVCGs 0120,

01213/16

GuangdongVCGs 0120, 0123, 0124/22,

01220, 01221, 01213/16

HainanVCGs 0123, 0124/22,

01221, 01213/16

GuangxiVCGs 0123, 01221,

01213/16

Yunnan(VCGs 0120, 01221)

14

14 00020 000

40 000 • Fusarium wilt was first discovered inFanyu of Guangzhou city in 2001

• The disease now occurs in all of themain production areas

• Cost of Fusarium wilt estimated tobe more than 500 million Yuan/year

Occurrence of Fusarium wilt in China

2011(06)

2015(12)

2013(12)

2015

Foc TR4 in Middle East

Banana Fusarium wilt in Oman

1 = Al-Batinah International farm2 = Al-Batinah North3 = Sohar4 = Saham

12

34

2009: Fusarium isolated from banana in Saham; Foc not confirmedMay 2011: Foc confirmed from banana in SoharJuly 2011: Foc confirmed from Cavendish bananas in Al-Batinah

Outbreaks of Fusarium wilt in Oman

Al-Batinah

Sohar

Saham

Reasons for Fusarium wilt epidemics

1. Large scale monoculture of bananas2. Expansion of the international trade3. Domination of trade with Cavendish bananas4. Disregard of quarantine regulations5. Movement of plants, people and equipment

“But it is Africa where the cause is most urgent. WhileEurope attempts to promote the interest of smallgrowers, big banana companies are moving operationsto countries that Europeans can buy bananas from.Cavendish plantations are now expanding across theAfrican continent.”

Dan Koeppel – Banana: The fate of the fruit

Next stop - Africa

Musa consumption in Africa

Africa includes several countries withthe highest per capita consumption ofbananas in the world, with Ugandansconsuming 243 kg/p/yr

Importance of bananas to Africa

Fusarium wilt in Africa

Foc TR4

Department of Plant Pathology

Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences

Altus ViljoenDepartment of Plant Pathology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Foc TR4 in Mozambique:A brief history

Developing banana farms

Introduction of Foc TR4 into Africa

Dealing with Foc TR4 in Africa

Idealistically, the company should split its losses, have the whole area fenced off,let it revert to bush and begin again in a new location taking its labour force withit…….

….. will provide inoculum for the continued spread ofthe problem on to poor farmer’s fields throughout Africa.

I would like to know how Foc-TR4 was introduced into the Cavendish plantationin Mozambique? Was it ever made known? The company or someone workingfor the company must surely have made some critical mistake somewhereinvolving banana material coming from affected regions of Asia. What a colossalmistake to make! I am afraid the consortium does not have my sympathy. Adeadly disease of a staple crop has been introduced to the poorest continentpresumably by the actions of venture capitalists. My heart doesn’t bleed for theshippers, bankers and other share holders of Matanuska Farm. They should bedoing the right thing for Africa and not their own interests.

- David Jones, Promusa listserver, 5 December 2013

Metocheria farm, Mozambique• Farm developed in 2009 near Namialo,

a dry region in northern Mozambique

• No other banana farm in a radius of 100km, with only pockets of volunteerbananas (cooking type)

• Water deficit was experienced in 2012,with Farm 2 being particularly affected

• Symptoms first observed in Feb 2013

• Water from Monapo River feeds intotwo ponds for sprinkler irrigation

• Considerable pedestrian movement ofpeople from local communities through

• Farm personnel were rotated betweenfields

• International staff is replaced fairlyregularly

Movement of Foc TR4 in Mozambique

Page 33

Managing Fusarium wilt: Metocheria

Status of Foc TR4 in Mozambique

Metocheria Week 36 ‘13 Week 7 ‘14 Week 17 ‘14 Week 37 ‘14 Week 7 ‘15

Farm 1 44 214 991 5 767 12 542Farm 2 5 597 6 477 7 713 28 160 88 114Farm 3 25 113 321 1 670 19 908Farm 4 3 68 193 1 871 9 224Farm 5 22 112 226 632 4 523Farm 6 9 83 157 3 432 -TOTAL 5 656 7 062 9 601 41 532 134 311

Jacaranda farm, Mozambique

• Approximately 100 km north ofMetocheria

• Two banana farms of 50 ha on eachside of the Lurio river

• Farms were established in 2010

• The first symptoms appeared inWeek 20 in 2014

• Week 22, 2015: 194 cases Farm 2• Unknown how Foc TR4 was

introduced onto the farm

• Employ Mozambique people, with 3workers previously from Metocheria

Jacaranda farm, Mozambique

Impact of Foc TR4 in Africa

ContainmentManagement

Crop replacement

AwarenessTraining

QuarantineSurveillance

Research

Region

Affected andNeighbour countries

Continent

On-Farm

↑ Losses↑ Activities

↑ Cost↓ Production

↓ Income

Poor prevention and containment

• Runoff water is a major source of FocTR4 spread on and off farm

• Flooding and poor drainage allcontribute to waterlogging

• No means to treat run-off water beforeflowing into Monapo river

Page 39

Flooding and poor drainage

Run-off water draining into Monapo river

Date Farm 1 Farm 2 Farm 3 Farm 4 Farm 5 Total % Affected

2013: Wk 36 44 5 597 25 3 22 5 656 0.2

2014: Wk 07 214 6 477 113 68 112 7 062 0.3

2014: Wk 17 991 7 713 321 193 226 9 601 0.4

2014: Wk 37 5 767 28 160 1 670 1 817 632 41 532 1.6

2015: Wk 07 12 542 88 114 19 908 9 224 4 523 135 311 5.3

2015: Wk 17 24 594 126 756 38 328 21 351 12 574 223 603 8.7

2015: Wk 37 72 794 281 316 112 008 69 831 44 774 576 763 22.5

Hectares 276 314 333 273 228 1 424

Plants (x1800) 496 800 565 200 599 400 491 400 410 400 2 563 200

% Affected 14.7 49.8 18.7 14.2 10.9 22.5

Foc TR4 outbreaks at Metocheria

• Food and income to 3 000-30 000 people inNampula province vs 70-100 million peoplein east, central and southern Africa

• Should all bananas at Matanuska andJacaranda be killed, burnt and the premisesput under permanent quarantine?

• Who has the authority to close downMatanuska and Jacaranda?

• The status of Foc TR4 in Mozambique hasto be communicated internationally; also itsintroduction into the continent

• Replacement of bananas with an alternativecrop needs to be seriously considered

• What is the chance of Foc TR4 spreadinginto the region and contaminating Africa?

Future of bananas in north Mozambique

Companyinvestment

Internationalinterest

Joblosses

Africanfood

security

Media

Localpolitics

Time and costof changes

Native bananas in Mozambique

Photo by Gerardo GutiérrezSource of map: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection

Cavendish banana production in Sudan

Movement of Foc TR4 – illegal plants!

Locations affected by Foc TR4

Countries affected by Foc TR4

Countries at high risk of Foc TR4

Countries at risk of Foc TR4

Regional strategy meetings on Foc TR4

Three common ways to deal with Foc TR4:a. Prevent from entering countries/regions/farms:

Latin America, Indiab. Early detection and containment: Jacaranda in

Mozambique; north Queenslandc. Management: Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia

Managing Foc TR4

When disease cannot be prevented/controlled(stopped), and has to be managed:

a. Basis would be tolerant/resistant plantsb. In the case of Cavendish bananas, only

somaclones can be usedc. Supported by an integrated disease

management strategy

• Obtain clean planting and propagation material fromreputable sources, preferentially tissue culture bananas

• Put up highly visible and clearly understandable signs atfarm entrances to notify visitors about farm biosecurity

• Clean all vehicles by hosing-off clay and plant parts anddisinfection before entering or leaving farm gates

• Manage visitors and vehicles entering farm borders:• Allow visitors only by appointment and upon signing in• Disinfect shoes and vehicles of visitors• Use only on-farm vehicles and provide boots to visitors

• Enquire about the employment history, nationality andmovement of all farm workers

• Avoid sharing farm machinery, equipment and field tools• Strictly control access of contractors and service

providers

Prevention of introduction

Prevention of introduction

Containment after introduction

Early detection and immediate abandonment!

Foc TR4: Destroy … or be destroyed

FocTR4 and molecular markers

• The Foc TR4 marker is of value fordiagnostics

• Foc TR4 marker will not prevent theimportation of the fungus into any country

• The marker cannot distinquish between alife and dead fungus

• The marker is unpractical for field surveysor detection in fruit

Molecular marker for Foc TR4 – Dita et al. (2010)- Li et al. (2014)

Global awareness of Foc TR4

• Export bananas almost exclusively consist ofCavendish bananas, and are produced intensivelyon large monoculture plantations

• About 83% of export bananas are produced in fivecountries: Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica,Guatemala and The Philippines (2010 data)

• World trade is controlled by a few key players,including ChiquitaFyffes, Dole and Del Monte

• The EU and USA are the biggest importers

Global threat Foc TR4

FAO Global Foc TR4 programme

FAO Global Foc TR4 programme

FAO global programme on Foc TR4ManagementPreventionRisk

assessmentCoordination

Assessmentof risk

National andregional meetings

Preparedness andprevention

Awarenessraising

Surveillance andmonitoring

Integrated diseasemanagement

Introduce trainingprogrammes

Introducecontingency plans

Capacitybuilding

Strengthenlegislation

Collaboration andnetworking

management

Acknowledgements• Selected MSc and PhD students

• Barbara Nel• Aneen Belgrove• Gerda Fourie• Noelani van den Berg• Diane Mostert• Diane Mostert• Patrick Karangwa

• Collaborators and funding organizations:• Bioversity International and BAPNET• The National Research Foundation (NRF)• The Banana Growers Association of South Africa• THRIP, South Africa• South African Biodiversity Incentive (SABI)• NARO, IITA, Bonn University

• Dr Gus Molina, a special appreciation• Drs Fen Beed and Rony Swennen, IITA• Drs CP Chao and SC Hwang (TPRI, Taiwan)• Drs Yi Ganjun, Li Chunyu (GDAAS, China)• Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Oman• Mr Bob Williams, Stewart Lindsay and Tony

Pattison (DPI, Australia)

sun.ac.za/banana-fusarium-wilt-africa