New banana disease found in Mozambique ( Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cubense Tropical Race 4)

Publication Date

Sun, 01 Sep 2013, 00:00

Last Updated

Dec. 22, 2016, 10:21 a.m.

Report Number

MOZ-03/2

Country

Mozambique

Pest Id

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense - (FUSACB)

Report Status

Preliminary

Hosts

The Tropical Race 4 of this fungus has banana as the specific host

Pest Status (old values from ISPM 8 -1998 )

• Present: only in some areas

Pest Status (ISPM 8 - 2021)

• Present: not widely distributed and under official control

Geographical Distribution

North of Mozambique, Nampula province in Monapo distrit

Summary

The fungal disease Tropical race 4 (TR4) was discovered on a commercial farm in Monapo distrit,Nampula province, northern Mozambique, early in 2013, and the responsible fungus subsequently identified first by the Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique and confirmed by the Stellenbosch University in South Africa. The Ministry of Agriculture, Mozambique, through the National Directorate of Agrarian Services, said that “according to their knowledge, the outbreak is still limited to a few fields on the farm”. All sites where the disease was found have now been isolated, the affected plants destroyed, and appropriate phytosanitary measures have been implemented to prevent the disease from spreading.

The Ministry of Agriculture of Mozambique officials have visited the farm, and have introduced in-country measures to contain and prevent spread to other parts of the country. A stakeholder consultation meeting to explain the outbreak was held in Maputo in November 2013, and will be followed by similar meetings in neighboring countries to raise awareness, heighten surveillance and put in place an emergency response plan.

Danger

The new form of this fungal disease, Tropical race 4 (TR4) as emerged, and is spreading in Asia where it is decimating production of Cavendish. Tropical’ race 4 is a more virulent form of the pathogen and is capable of causing disease in ‘Cavendish’ growing under any conditions, whereas ‘subtropical’race 4 generally only causes disease in plants growing sub-optimally (cool temperatures, water stress, poor soil). Foc can be spread unknowingly over long distances onto new plantations when infected rhizome bits and suckers are used for planting material. The use of tissue cultured plantlets from a certified source guarantees planting material free from the disease. Spread can also occur over long distances in infested soil adhering to vehicles and footwear. There is reason to believe that infested soil adhering to the feet of animals is another way by which spread occurs. The fungus can move over short distances within an infected area of a property through the interconnecting network of roots and in surface water

Contact for info

Serafina Mangana Head of Plant protection Department of Minstry of Agricultura IPPC contact point DSV- Recinto do IIAM- Av. das FPLM; CP 3658 Maputo Mozambique Email: [email protected] Tel: +258 21 460591 Cell: +258 849115729 Antonia Vaz Plant protection Seccion under the Plant Protection Department DSV- Recinto do IIAM- Av. das FPLM; CP 3658 Maputo Mozambique Email: [email protected] Tel: +258 21 460591

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Commodity keywords

[06] Live trees, plants, bulbs, roots, cut flowers etc