Host Response to Black Leaf Streak and Agronomic Performance of Banana Genotypes in Puerto Rico
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HORTSCIENCE 54(10):1808–1817. 2019. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13876-19 farming, culture, and daily diets. In the last Census on Agriculture for Puerto Rico, plan- tains ranked second in area planted (8930 Host Response to Black Leaf Streak and ha) after coffee as an agricultural crop/in- dustry (USDA-NASS, 2012). In 2015, Puerto Agronomic Performance of Banana Rican plantains were estimated to account for $72.4 M in sales, with all other banana types Genotypes in Puerto Rico accounting for another $29.0 M in value (Instituto de Estadísticas de Puerto Rico, Brian M. Irish and Ricardo Goenaga 2016). USDA-ARS Tropical Agriculture Research Station, 2200 Pedro Albizu Major constraints to banana production Campos Avenue, Mayaguez, PR 00680 worldwide include devastating fungal, bac- terial, and viral diseases, in addition to Sirena Montalvo-Katz several species of plant pathogenic nema- Bioversity International, 2200 Pedro Albizu Campos Avenue, Mayaguez, PR todes and insect vectors/pests. In Puerto Rico, Sigatoka leaf spot, commonly known 00680 as yellow Sigatoka, caused by Pseudocerco- Bernardo Chaves-Cordoba spora musae (Zimm.) Deighton, traditionally has been a problem in plantain production WSU IAREC 241006 North Bunn Road, Prosser, WA 99350 areas, especially in the mountains (Gonzalez, Inge Van den Bergh 2009). However, the more recent incursion of Pseudocercospora fijiensis, which causes Bioversity International, Belgium Office, West De Croylaan 42, 3001 black leaf streak (BLS), commonly known Heverlee, Belgium as black Sigatoka, throughout the island has Additional index words. disease resistance, FLHORBAN, GCTCV, International Musa caused concern among producers. This has steadily led to higher production costs asso- Testing Program, Musa, Pseudocercospora fijiensis, Sigatoka ciated with added labor for cultural practices Abstract. Bananas are one of the most important fruits, serving as a cash crop and staple and increased use of fungicides, making it the food in many regions of the world. In Puerto Rico, bananas are an important agricultural most important disease in banana production industry, supplying all the fruit needed for local demand. Diseases significantly limit on the island (Cortes et al., 2009; Irish et al., production, and the evaluation and adoption of improved genetic resistance in bananas 2006). Recent fusarium wilt (FW) studies, might provide an avenue for long-term sustainable production. To this end, nine commonly known as Panama disease, caused enhanced genotypes from international selection and breeding programs were intro- by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense [(E.F. duced and evaluated for their response to black leaf streak (BLS) (Pseudocercospora Sm.) W.C. Snyder & H.N. Hansen], showed fijiensis Morelet) and for their agronomic performance. Bananas were evaluated as part limited genetic diversity in the pathogen of a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural population on the island, with only race 1 Research Service (USDA-ARS) Tropical Agriculture Research Station (TARS) and and race 2 being reported. Furthermore, the Bioversity International’s International Musa Testing Program (IMTP). Improved Cavendish-affecting tropical race 4 (TR4) genotypes were compared with disease-resistant and disease-susceptible reference was not described for the pathogen popula- genotypes across two cropping cycles. Field plants were grown following commercial tions surveyed (Garcia et al., 2018), although production practices with no BLS management. Significant differences in disease global spread of this aggressive strain con- reactions were observed during both cropping cycles for test and reference genotypes. tinues (Ordonez et al., 2015). Other important Under high disease pressure, ‘FHIA-21’, ‘FHLORBAN 916’, and ‘FHLORBAN 920’ test pests on the island include nematodes [Rado- genotypes showed higher numbers of functional leaves and lower disease severity at pholus similis (Cobb) Thorne and Pratylen- harvest in both cycles. Short cycling times were also observed for the two FHLORBAN chus coffeae (Goodey)] and the banana genotypes. Larger bunches with a high number of fruits were produced by the ‘IBP 12’, weevil [Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar)] ‘IBP 5-B’, and ‘IBP 5-61’ selections. Several of the GCTCV test genotypes were (Puerto Rico Agricultural Experiment Sta- extremely susceptible to BLS, did not perform as expected, and appeared to be off- tion, 1995). A Puerto Rican Department of types. Several of the test genotypes performed well, although currently none possessed all Agriculture–imposed embargo on imported needed traits for a commercial banana substitute. Regardless, several test genotypes have fruit coming to the island helps to prevent agronomic potential because they have been selected for disease resistance to other the introduction of other significant plant important pathogens (e.g., fusarium wilt) and therefore have become part of the pathogens [e.g., Moko disease, Ralstonia permanent TARS collection. Future efforts will continue to focus on the IMTP solanacearum (Smith)] and shields the local collaboration and introduction of promising banana genotypes for evaluations. markets. Ironically, fruit shortages after hur- ricane Maria in 2017 left no other option but to allow fresh fruit imports from Colombia, Bananas (Musa spp.), consumed mostly World banana fruit production in 2016 Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic, for their fruit, are an important agricultural accounted for more than 148 M metric tons, increasing the odds of new pest ingress crop grown around tropical and subtropical with India, China, and Indonesia being the (Irizarry-Alvarez, 2017). regions of the world. They are produced as a top three producing countries (FAOSTAT, Increased competition, natural disasters cash crop for local and export markets and as 2016). Although the Cavendish group of (e.g., hurricane Maria), and invasive insect a staple food in many developing countries. cultivars dominates global production, ba- pests and diseases make cost-effective and nanas are extremely diverse, with most orig- sustainable banana production on the island inating from regions of domestication and difficult. Following the identification of P. genetic diversity in Southeast Asia (Perrier fijiensis on the island in 2004, BLS has been Received for publication 8 Feb. 2019. Accepted for et al., 2011). the most important disease in banana/plan- publication 29 July 2019. Current address (B.M.I.): Plant Germplasm Intro- Banana production in Puerto Rico has tain production systems, thus requiring cul- duction Testing and Research Unit, USDA-ARS, been an important agricultural industry that tural and chemical means to effectively Prosser, WA historically has supported local consumer manage crop production. Long-term sustain- B.M.I. is the corresponding author. E-mail: brian. demand. Plantains, a type of cooking banana, able practices for managing BLS are needed, [email protected]. are especially important to Puerto Rican and minimizing reliance on fungicides is an 1808 HORTSCIENCE VOL. 54(10) OCTOBER 2019 important goal. This is especially true be- promising banana hybrids and cultivar ge- Field site and experimental design. In cause fungicides can have negative effects on notypes for their host reaction to BLS and to Aug. 2014, 15 test and reference genotypes the environment, pose risks to the public, and assess their agronomic traits and production (Tables 1 and 2) were established at TARS add to the production costs of farmers (Aktar potential. research farm (lat. 18°28#18.38$ N, long. et al., 2009). In addition, over time, several 67°3#4.25$ W; elevation, 118 m) located in extensively used fungicides have lost some of Materials and Methods Isabela, PR. The experiment was established their efficacy due to resistance in P. fijiensis on a well-drained Oxisol soil type (clayey, populations (Arango Isaza et al., 2016). The Plant material. Nine test genotypes orig- kaolinitic isohyperthermic Typic Hapludox) importation and evaluation of improved inating from four international banana breed- with a mean pH of 6.2. The mean annual disease-resistant Musa spp. germplasm, fol- ing/selection programs and six reference precipitation during the 4 years preceding lowed by its public acceptance and commer- genotypes were included in the trial. The experimental establishment (calendar years cial production, can address the many specific test genotypes (Table 1) were se- 2010–13) was 1596 mm, with peaks in pre- challenges that banana farmers face in Puerto lected for evaluation in Puerto Rico, either cipitation during the months of May and Rico. for their reported resistance to BLS or for August (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2018). Most cultivated bananas in the world are their lower susceptibility to one or more races A randomized complete block design naturally occurring diploid and triploid se- of fusarium wilt, in addition to their good (RCBD) was used with four blocks and four lections of either Musa acuminata Colla. or agronomic performance. The test genotypes replicate plants per block for each genotype. M. acuminata Colla. · Musa balbisiana L. included the following: For two genotypes, not enough plants were hybrids; however, some synthetic tetraploid obtained by the time the experiment was hybrids are gaining acceptance (e.g., FHIA two triploid (AAA) dessert-type hybrid ge- established; therefore, only three and two clones in Cuba) and are being grown on notypes with BLS resistance from the Center replicate plants