Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Cheng-Ping Kuan, Po-Heng Chen, Han-Wei Chen*, Teng-Yung Feng, and Tso-Chi Yang

Abstract:

    Fusarium wilt disease of banana (Panama disease), caused by Fusarium oxysporium f. sp. cubense (Foc), is considered as one of the most important banana diseases in the world and no chemical control or fungicides are available so far. To decrease the damages of Fusarium wilt on banana industry, planting resistant cultivars and breeding the transgenic bananas expressing resistant genes against pathogens are best strategy in the Foc-infected field. Here, we developed a foliar rating system to assess the disease-development of Fusarium wilt in several transgenic banana plants expressing the ferredoxin-like protein (PFLP) gene. The responses of the PFLP transgenic and non-transgenic banana cultivars were evaluated on their susceptibility or tolerance against the pathogen in pots in the greenhouse. The PFLP gene in transgenic bananas were monitored by PCR to confirm its existence. Several transgenic lines of plantlets were challenged by the infection with the conidia suspension of Foc. Leaves yellowing or wilting symptoms of banana seedlings appeared over 8 weeks after Foc-inoculation. The results showed that the ‘MCPER3-4’ was the more resistant line among seven transgenic lines. This fast and space-effective bioassay may be used to evaluate as screening of Musa spp. against the disease.

Key words:Banana, Fusarium wilt, Panama disease, Tolerance

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