Panama Disease (Fusarium Wilt of Banana)

1. Recently, scientists identified a specific gene that could help protect banana plants from Panama disease.
2. What is Panama Disease?
   1. Panama disease is a severe fungal infection of banana plants. It is also called fusarium wilt.
   2. It is caused by a soil-dwelling fungus (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense) that lives underground.
   3. It enters the banana plants through their roots and spreads inside the plant’s water conducting tissues, blocking the channels that carry water and nutrients. As transport stops, the plant begins to weaken. Eventually, the entire plant collapses and dies
   4. Once present in the soil, the fungus can survive for many years, even without banana plants.
   5. Because of this long survival ability, affected farmland becomes unsuitable for banana cultivation for a very long time.
   6. Due to its destructive nature and lack of cure, farmers often describe it as “banana cancer.”
3. Which Banana Variety is Most Affected: Cavendish (G9) banana cultivar, which is the most widely grown banana variety in the world and is dominant in global export markets.
4. Symptoms of Panama Disease (How to Identify It): The disease shows both early and advanced symptoms
   1. Early Signs: Yellowing starts along the edges of older leaves. These yellow areas gradually turn brown and dry
   2. Progressive Damage: Leaves droop and lose strength. The stem develops a dark brown discoloration
   3. Final Stage: Leaves collapse either along the stalk or where the stalk meets the stem. Dead leaves accumulate around the lower part of the plant, forming a “skirt” appearance. Finally, the whole banana plant dies

FAQs

Q1. What is Panama Disease? 

It is a severe fungal infection of banana plants, also called Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.

Q2. How does the fungus attack banana plants in the Panama Disease? 

It enters through roots, spreads in water-conducting tissues, blocks nutrient transport, and eventually causes the plant to collapse and die.

Q3. Why is Panama Disease considered so destructive? 

The fungus can survive in soil for many years even without banana plants, making affected farmland unsuitable for cultivation for decades.

Q4. Which banana variety is most affected by the Panama Disease? 

The Cavendish (G9) cultivar, the world’s most widely grown export banana.

Q5. What are the symptoms of Panama Disease?

1. Early: Yellowing along leaf edges, turning brown and dry
2. Progressive: Leaves droop, stems show dark brown discoloration
3. Final: Leaves collapse, forming a “skirt” of dead foliage, and the plant dies.