The distribution and incidence of banana Fusarium wilt in subsistence farming systems in east and central Africa

Bananas (Musa spp.) are major staple and cash crops in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Yet, banana yields in this region are among the lowest in the world due to a wide range of abiotic, biotic and socio-economic causes. Cropping systems which could contribute to soil fertility replenishment, pest and disease suppression and climate change mitigation might improve banana yields and contribute to uplifting the livelihoods of millions of people in the region. In this context, a survey was conducted over two seasons in banana-based subsistence farming systems in Rwanda, Burundi, north-western Tanzania (Kagera and Kigoma regions) and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (South Kivu province), to investigate the distribution and incidence of banana Fusarium wilt as related to cropping systems, edapho-climatic and socio-economic factors. Banana Fusarium wilt incidence was found generally high in the region, 54.1% of all farms had disease incidence higher than 40%, with Tanzania having the highest number of farms with high disease incidence (63.6%). Statistical analysis (chi-squared test of association) and GIS mapping, by layering Fusarium wilt incidence over selected predictor maps, showed that disease incidence was lower in farms growing cultivar mixtures (p < 0.01) and at higher altitudes (>1600masl) (p < 0.05), and a significant association of Fusarium wilt and farm age was observed whereby disease incidence was highest in farms aged between 10 and 30 years (p < 0.05). Additionally, this study reports for the first time the occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 2 in Rwanda and Burundi, and suggests that strategies for banana Fusarium wilt management in east and central Africa should include raising farmers’ awareness on pathogen spread mechanisms and enhancing their access to disease-free planting materials.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) using RAPD and ISSR markers

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is an industrially important plant used for production of curcumin, oleoresin and essential oil. In the present study we examined the genetic diversity among turmeric accessions from 10 different agro-climatic regions comprising 5 cultivars and 55 accessions. Two DNA-based molecular marker techniques, viz., random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) were used to assess the genetic diversity in turmeric genotypes. A total of 17 polymorphic primers (11 RAPDs and 6 ISSRs) were used in this study. RAPD analysis of 60 genotypes yielded 94 fragments of which 75 were polymorphic with an average of 6.83 polymorphic fragments per primer. Number of amplified fragments with RAPD primers ranged from 3 to 13 with the size of amplicons ranging from 230 to 3000 bp in size. The polymorphism ranged from 45 to 100 with an average of 91.4%. The 6 ISSR primers produced 66 bands across 60 genotypes of which 52 were polymorphic with an average of 8.6 polymorphic fragments per primer. The number of amplified bands varied from 1 to 14 with size of amplicons ranging from 200 to 2000 bp. The percentage of polymorphism using ISSR primers ranged from 83 to 100 with an average of 95.4%. Nei's dendrogram for 60 samples using both RAPD and ISSR markers demonstrated an extent of 62% correlation between the genetic similarity and geographical location. The result of Nei's genetic diversity (H) generated from the POP gene analysis shows relatively low genetic diversity in turmeric accessions of South eastern ghat (P7), Western undulating zone (P8) with 0.181 and 0.199 value whereas highest genetic diversity (0.257) has been observed in Western central table land (P9). Knowledge on the genetic diversity of turmeric from different agro-climatic regions can be used to future breeding programs for increased curcumin, oleoresin and essential oil production to meet the ever-increasing demand of turmeric for industrial and pharmaceutical uses.     

Control of Fusarium wilt of carnation using organic amendments combined with soil solarization,and report of associated Fusarium species in southern Spain

Fusarium wilt is a disease that restricts carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) yield worldwide. Efficacies in reducing the Fusarium wilt of carnation (FWC), of various types of organic amendments (fresh or pelletized poultry manure, pelletized Brassica carinata and olive residue compost) combined with soil solarization, were compared in two biennial field trials conducted in a greenhouse with a history of carnation monoculture over 8 years. Soil treatments combining organic amendments and soil solarization significantly reduced disease incidence (86–99%) and increased the number of commercial carnation stems by 5–9 times compared to non-treated plots. Twenty-one Fusarium spp. isolates, with different colony morphologies were recovered from soil samples taken in the greenhouse, before the application of treatments in June 2013. Nineteen of them were morphological and molecularly characterized. Additionally, two pathogenicity tests with 17 isolates recovered from greenhouse soils and two isolates recovered from organic amendments were performed. Fusarium species associated with carnation cultivation were identified as Fusarium oxysporum (43%), Fusarium proliferatum (24%), and Fusarium solani (33%). The phylogenetic analysis of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) region distinguished highly aggressive isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. dianthi, from low aggressive isolates. The pathogenicity tests showed that FWC has a complex etiology, with several Fusarium spp. identified as causal agents. F. proliferatum and F. solani are associated with carnation wilt for the first time in Spain.     

Establishment of a bank of positive controls for diagnosis of quarantine viruses and viroids in Brazil through PCR and RT-PCR

The analysis of plant materials such as seeds, seedlings and other units for vegetative propagation that are imported, before planting in the country, routinely transported across international borders, is essential to decrease the imminent risk of introducing exotic pathogens, considered A1 pests. However, this requires the use of reliable positive controls, to prevent any false positives and/or negative results, causing undesirable consequences. The aims of this study were to set up a bank of positive controls constituted, in most cases, by the cDNA of the viral capsid gene cloned into commercial plasmid and propose diagnostic primers for PCR and RT-PCR assays. Genomic fragments of 41 quarantine viruses and two quarantine viroids in Brazil, as well as 12 regulated non-quarantine viruses, were cloned in plasmids, to be used as a positive control in diagnostic RT-PCR and PCR tests. Besides being a safer and more economical alternative, this bank will avoid the use of virus-infected tissue or total nucleic acid, which would still be infectious. The correct usage of this kind of positive control would eliminate the risk of incidental introduction of exotic viruses in Brazil.