JST Top > Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development > Projects >

Establishment of an Alert System for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, the Banana and Plantain Wilt Pathogen, and Mitigation Strategy of the Disease

Bioresources

Republic of Peru

Establishment of an Alert System for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, the Banana and Plantain Wilt Pathogen, and Mitigation Strategy of the Disease

Stop the invasion and spread of banana wilt from threatening the banana industry!

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  ARIE Tsutomu
  Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT)
- Prof.
  Liliana Aragon Caballero
  Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM)

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Peru

Research Institutions in Japan

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) / Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) / Tottori University (TU)

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM) / Instituto Nacional de Innovacion Agraria (INIA) / Universidad Nacional de la Selva (UNAS)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2022

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Propose a comprehensive package to control banana wilt with low environmental impact
We are proposing the following to local governments in the La Selva region of Peru as a comprehensive package to control banana wilt, a disease that causes crippling damage to bananas: (1) banana wilt diagnosis systems at the field and molecular levels; (2) obtaining banana lines that are resistant/resilient to banana wilt as a result of mutagenesis; (3) a disease-free sapling production/distribution system; (4) investigation of microbial ecosystems forming disease-suppressing soil; and (5) disease control methods with a low environmental impact, combining methods such as bio-pesticide.

Ensure stable banana production and help improve farmers’ standard of living
In the banana-producing region of the Selva, Peru, personnel (technicians) are being trained to advise farmers on the basis of the comprehensive package to control banana wilt, which has been adopted as technology for widespread use and is being utilized by farmers. This is helping to improve the standard of living of small-scale farmers in the Selva.

Photo gallery

Establishment of a method of identifying banana wilt (LAMP method). Tissue from samples of infected plants (samples 3 and 4) exhibits a positive reaction within 1 hour.

Preparation for shipping in a small-scale banana farm in the Selva region of Peru

Banana wilt in a banana field in the La Selva region of Peru has turned the leaves yellow and wilted. The inset at the bottom right shows how the vascular bundles have turned brown.