Development of molecular markers for Fusarium resistance in banana

Fusarium wilt – particularly that caused by Tropical Race 4 (TR4) of the fusarium pathogen – threatens the viability of commercial banana production in Australia, and worldwide. Once present in a plantation, the fungus persists in the soil or in alternative hosts and cannot be eradicated. There are no known chemical controls and therefore genetic resistance is the only current control option. Resistance to the TR4 Fusarium strain has been identified in wild banana genotypes but introgression into edible cultivars through breeding programs can be protracted and problematic. This investment aims to develop molecular markers linked to TR4 resistance to assist the accelerated development of resistant commercial banana varieties