Africa

Fast-spreading banana fungus poses major threat to African food security

High risk as same banana strain grown in most plantations; Staple food for millions can be affected

 
By Madhumita Paul
Published: Friday 30 September 2022
It is important to find out types of bananas are susceptible to the fungus, say the researchers. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A fungus that affects bananas is spreading rapidly across the world and threatening food security in Africa, researchers have warned. The disease is on the rise in Mozambique and the food sources for millions may be at risk. 

A genetic study Uncontained spread of Fusarium wilt of banana threatens African food security was conducted by scientists from Utrecht University and Wageningen University & Research (WUR). It was published in journal PLOS Pathogens and Plant Disease September 22, 2022.

Tropical Race 4 (TR4), a new fusarium species, is on the rise in Mozambique and spreading fast, according to the research. Fusarium is a filamentous fungus or a type of plant pathogen. 


Read more: What is Panama disease? Are bananas at risk?


The fungal strain spread from Asia to South America and Africa over the past decade. The first reports of the disease came out of Mozambique in 2013, after which things remained quiet for years.

Gert Kema, one of the authors of the study, said: 

The disease seemed to be under control in Africa. However, we have since learned that this is, sadly, not the case. 

Kema is a professor at WUR. Anouk Van Westerhoven, a PhD student under Kema worked on a study focused on the banana fungus in collaboration with a local researcher.

The fungus has dispersed at least 200 kilometres away from the original plantation, the researchers found. 

The genetic research shows that the strains found in different locations are closely related, indicating that Mozambique’s pathogen has a single origin.

Outbreak in Africa

Small-scale farmers and people with gardens full of banana plants are among the groups where the disease is still spreading. They are most likely unable to treat the disease properly because they are unaware of it.

The question is not if but rather when the disease will spread to other African countries, said Van Westerhoven. 

Bananas are a staple food for millions of people in countries such as Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda and Rwanda. They frequently grow local banana strains in addition to the Cavendish banana, which is sold in supermarkets around the world.

”It is not known whether most banana strains are susceptible to TR4. That means that this disease threatens food security in these countries,” Kema warned.

The disease spreads quickly because the same banana is grown on plantations all over the world.

The researchers explained that it is a fungus that lives in the soil and flooding greatly aids in its spread. Management strategies currently aim to prevent the spread of TR4 by focusing on using clean planting material and machinery and quarantining infested farms.


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Food security

The importance of bananas for food security is particularly relevant for East Africa (Burundi, Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda).

The East African Highland bananas (EAHBs) are the crucial cash crops and staple food for millions of people in these areas that has the world’s highest per capita banana consumption of 400-600 kg.

According to Van Westerhoven, speed and openness are needed to contain the spread of a disease such as Fusarium. Unfortunately, both are lacking. 

Kema points out that it is vital to know which types of bananas are susceptible and which are not. “The ultimate solution lies in new, resistant varieties. That requires breeding, which is a time-consuming process,” Kema added. 

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