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INIA joins global efforts to develop TR4-resistant banana Peru’s National Institute of Agrarian Innovation is evaluating the adaptability of various new organic varieties at its test facility in Tumbes. by Maura Maxwell @maurafruitnet
T
he detection of Fusarium
varieties, while also helping to drive
but will also help INIA develop techniques to help
wilt TR4 on a farm in
research into improved growing
growers to be er manage their farms and improve the
northern Piura last month
and management techniques to
quality of their export offer.
has injected fresh urgency into
enable Peru to boost its presence on
the race for a solution to this
international markets.
devastating disease. Since its discovery in South
“In 2019 we started the initiative
It is one of several programmes in which INIA is working in collaboration with international institutions across a wide range of issues, from the development
to introduce germplasm from
of early detection systems for TR4 using molecular
east Asia some 50 years ago, the
international research centres from
technology, to be er diagnostic tools, and improved
TR4 strain of the devastating
all over the world. We did a lot of
monitoring systems.
Fusarium wilt, or Panama disease,
research beforehand to determine
has been spreading across the globe
the most promising genotypes in
way forward is to minimise its impact and contain its
at an increasing pace. As there
terms of building TR4 resistance,
spread while the industry works towards the
is currently no known effective
and on the basis of this we got
development of new, resistant varieties,” Guerrero says.
treatment to control the disease,
in touch with IMGTC to request
“In order for this to succeed, collaboration and
preventative controls are the only
the necessary samples,” Guerrero
knowledge sharing is key.” _
line of defence while the search for a
explains.
disease-resistant commercial variety continues.
“The material will shortly be transferred to the germplasm
Peru’s National Institute of
bank in Tumbes, where we already
Agrarian Innovation (INIA) is one
have a small collection of samples,
of the agencies involved in these
and later this year we will plant
efforts. The institute is running trials
experimental fields to evaluate the
on various samples of germplasm
adaptability of the various different
to develop TR4 resistance in organic
cultivars.”
bananas, which make up the bulk of the country’s exports. In all, 20 varieties developed
TOP—Dr Juan Carlos Guerrero is leading the project at the
National Institute of Agrarian Innovation BELOW—INIA will be able to gauge which varieties have
adapted best to local conditions within around two years
He estimates that within two to two and half years INIA will have a good idea of which varieties
by Belgium’s International Musa
have adapted the best to the local
Germplasm Transit Centre (IMGTC)
conditions in Piura and Tumbes,
were selected on the basis of their
home to most of Peru’s 15,000ha of
high resistance to TR4.
organic banana cultivation.
Dr Juan Carlos Guerrero,
“Panama disease will never be eradicated, so the best
Guerrero notes that the studies
who oversees the project, says
to be carried out will not only
the germplasm will aid efforts
facilitate the development of new
to develop high-quality new
varieties with high genetic quality,
fresh focus banana 2021
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