ISHS Acta Horticulturae 897: V International Symposium on Banana: ISHS-ProMusa Symposium on Global Perspectives on Asian Challenges
RAISING AWARENESS OF THE THREAT OF FUSARIUM WILT TROPICAL RACE 4 IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN |
| Authors: | L.E. Pocasangre, R.C. Ploetz, A.B. Molina, L. Perez Vicente |
| Keywords: | action plan, banana and plantain, INISAV, MUSALAC, OIRSA, Panama disease, quarantine, risk analysis, stakeholders |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.897.45 |
| Abstract:
Banana and plantain are among the most important commodities, both as staple food and as export crop, for many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4 (TR4), which is attacking banana in Asia, represents a threat to the export banana industry which in Latin America is based almost 100% on the Cavendish subgroup that is susceptible to Foc TR4. Production for national markets, based on apple banana, plantain and Gros Michel, is also under threat. Bioversity International has formed a strategic alliance with the Research and Development Network for Plantain and Banana for Latin America and the Caribbean (MUSALAC), the Regional Organization for Agriculture and Livestock Sanitation (OIRSA), the University of Florida and the Cuban Instituto Nacional de Investigacion de Sanidad Vegetal (INISAV) to launch an awareness campaign in order to prevent entrance of Foc TR4 into the Americas. The threat of Foc TR4 was first raised in the VII Steering Committee meeting of MUSALAC held in Panama in October 2007. The 12 country representatives prepared a resolution emphasising the importance of quarantine measures. The resolution of this workshop has been distributed to all 13 MUSALAC member countries. In addition, OIRSA sent an official communication to the agriculture ministries of nine countries in Central America in order to strengthen the quarantine measures of plant protection departments to prevent entrance of this pathogen. In addition to the resolution and actions by OIRSA, Bioversity International and OIRSA are co-organising a training workshop and expert consultation with country quarantine officers and international Fusarium specialists. The workshop will provide technical training to country representatives and input to prepare quarantine guidelines oriented to all stakeholders of the banana production chain and other related sectors such as ornamental plants. | |
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