It can control the Fusarium fungi from multiplying and affecting the roots
The scientists of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), have found a cure for one of the most dreaded agricultural diseases. The fungal disease, called Fusarium Wilt, is popularly known as the ‘Panama Disease’ and afflicts banana plants. For the first time, Indian scientists have brought out a bio pesticide that can control the disease. This bio pesticide has been made using another fungus.
For a long time, banana cultivators have been struggling with the Panama Disease. This disease affects the Cavendish variety or the G9 Banana cultivar, which is the most widely grown banana in the world. In India, more than 60 per cent of bananas are of the G9 variety. They go by names like ‘Grand Naine’, ‘Robusta’, ‘Bhusaval’, ‘Basrai’ and ‘Shrimanth’. Farmers in at least four Indian states — Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — have been badly affected by this disease. All these are areas where the Cavendish variety is grown.
Panama Disease is caused by a fungus with a long and complicated name called Fusarium Oxysporum f. Sp cubense. One of its strains which is called ‘Tropical Race 4’ or ‘TR4’ is creating the most havoc, threatening almost 80 per cent of the global banana production.
It was found that ICAR scientists had already developed a herbicide that was effective for Fusarium Wilt in tomatoes and chillies. The scientists decided that they would modify this formulation to tackle Panama Disease in bananas.
In 2018, the field trials of this new bio-fungicide began. It was called ‘ICAR FUSCIONT’ which was made from a novel strain of fungi called ‘Trichoderma EC’. This fungicide can control the Fusarium fungi from multiplying and affecting the roots. It also adds to the immunity of the banana plant. The fungicide needs to be applied at regular intervals during the crop cycle of the banana plant, which is for 14-16 months.
