Integrated crop production of bananas in Indonesia and Australia

Abstract

This project aimed at developing science-based disease management approaches of banana wilts, with emphasis on Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), to improve productivity and profitability of bananas thereby improving livelihoods of banana growers in Indonesia and Australia. The research activities focused on two major areas. One focused on identifying and adapting known Integrated Pest and Disease Management practices (IPM) through integration with cropping systems approaches. The second focus area was to carry out strategic studies to further build knowledge and capacity that would improve abilities to formulate and implement sound IPM tactics. These included basic and applied studies to better understand the underlying basis of host-pathogen interactions, as in the case of soil-supression in Foc epidemics; and studies on host-pathogen interactions as influenced by virulence of various strains of the pathogen against different Musa cultivars. These research activities aimed to fill in knowledge gaps for developing more efficient disease management strategies