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What you need to know about Tropical Race 4

TR4 Global Network - An initiative of the World Banana Forum

Copyright licence

Year of publication 2020

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 5

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Category Brochure

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The flyer, What you need to know about TR4, aims to inform the general public with basic information about Tropical race 4 (TR4). The underlying message is that actions can indeed be taken to help prevent the spread of the pest and that the way forward is for stakeholders across the banana industry to act with urgency and in a collaborative manner. Fusarium Tropical race 4 (TR4) is a strain of the soil born fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense whose spores can lie dormant in the soil until a susceptible plant is established nearby. These spores infect the plant through the roots and inhabit the banana or plantain plant’s xylem vessels, blocking the flow of water and nutrients. Fungicides can't save plants that are already infected with TR4, and the fungus's spores persist in soil for decades. Therefore the most immediate approach to combat TR4 is prevention of its spread into clean areas and containment when it is detected. In the long term, diversification of crops and better use of available genetic resources are key to building resilience to the disease. Agro-ecological innovations will be increasingly important to produce varieties less susceptible to TR4. The flyer focuses on three practical items that a visitor to a banana or plantation farm can do to minimise the risk of spreading TR4.

Language English

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