Characterization of a unique population of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense causing Fusarium wilt in Cavendish bananas at Carnarvon, Western Australia

Abstract

A unique population of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense affecting Cavendish cv. Williams banana plants was characterized using vegetative compatibility, volatile production, RAPD-PCR analysis, pectic enzyme production and pathogenicity. The isolates were more like race 1 isolates than race 4 isolates, although they were capable of attacking Cavendish clones. The Carnarvon isolates did not belong to any of the vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) known to occur in Australia or overseas; they belonged in the 'inodoraturn' volatile group; they had 29% genetic similarity to race 4 isolates and 76% similarity to race 1 isolates based on RAPD-PCR banding patterns; they belonged in the same pectic zymogram group as race 1 isolates and were virulent on 3-month-old Cavendish cv. Williams, Gros Michel and Pisang Gajih Merah plants in glasshouse tests.