Investigation of Fusarium wilt disease (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense) and its integrated management possibilites in banana productions of the mediterranean region

In this study, fungal wilt disease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4, was investigated in the Mediterranean Region. Totally, 117 banana plantations were investigated and samples were taken in 2018- 2019. Fusarium and the other fungi were obtained according to standart mycological isolation procedure and eight (8) plantations were detected to be contaminated with the Foc TR4 by classical and molecular identification studies. Disease prevalence was found to be 6.8% in Turkey. Pathogenicity tests were conducted with the Fusarium isolates and BMAE104MM was revealed to be the most virulent (with 91.6% disease severity). Moreover, the susceptibility of four banana cultivars to most virulent isolate was tested and the cultivar Paşa was found to be resistant, when compared to the others. When the effects of chemical fertilizer combinations on disease development were examined, it was found that 15.15.15(25) + Urea application with a rate of 25% (inoculated control 75%) exhibited lower disease severity. The effects of mycorrhiza (ERS), Trichoderma harzianum (T-22), ERS+ T-22 combination and fungicide (hymexazole) applications on disease occurrene were investigated, and these applications reduced the disease severity by 94.4%, 93.3%, 86.4%, and 30%, respectively. The study confirmed presence, prevalence and pathogenicity of the Foc TR4 races identified in banana production areas of Mediterranean coastal region of Turkey.