Fusarium wilt of banana (Tropical Race 4) in Nepal: Distribution, epidemiology, and integrated management strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2025.1004019Keywords:
Biological control, Biosecurity, Diagnostics, Epidemiology, Integrated disease managementAbstract
Banana (Musa spp.) is a key smallholder crop in Nepal, ranking third in production (≈282,000 t yr-¹) and fifth in area (≈19,000 ha), yet it faces a growing threat from Fusarium wilt (Panama disease) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4). Unlike earlier epidemics that devastated ‘Gros Michel’ (Race 1), TR4 infects Cavendish and many cooking cultivars, persists in soil for over 30 years, and spreads through contaminated planting material, soil, water, and tools. This review aims to synthesize global and regional evidence on TR4’s etiology, history, distribution, symptoms, and epidemiology, and to evaluate management options relevant to Nepal’s smallholder systems following the country’s first detections in 2023 (e.g., Kailali, Tikapur). Information was compiled systematically from peer-reviewed literature (Elsevier, Springer, Wiley), institutional reports (FAO, IPPC, NPPO), and verified bulletins (2000–2024). The synthesis indicates that curative control is unreliable, whereas integrated exclusion and containment strategies—certified disease-free planting material, field sanitation, and movement restrictions—can reduce disease incidence by 60–80%. Biological control, nutrient management, and tolerant cultivars show potential as supportive, not substitutive, measures. Therefore, establishing national diagnostic and surveillance capacity, strengthening on-farm biosecurity and clean-seed systems, and aligning regional quarantine and seed-certification policies should be needed on urgent priorities in Nepal. This study provides the first comprehensive synthesis of TR4’s threat to Nepal, offering an evidence-based roadmap for safeguarding banana livelihoods and sustaining the national value chain.
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