Taxonomic Revision of the Banana Fusarium Wilt TR4 Pathogen Is Premature

Bedoya, Eliana Torres; Bebber, Daniel P.; Studholme, David J.

doi:10.1094/phyto-03-21-0089-le

Cited by 24 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…It is evident that the inconsistent designation of Foc lineages, when using different techniques, can cause confusion and this should be resolved. However, the authors of this study do not agree with the renaming of Foc lineages to separate Fusarium species [22] without carefully considering the scientific and practical merit thereof and potential confusion created for practitioners and legislators [70,71]. While the subdivision of the FOSC into species is inevitable, the authors of this study believe that this action requires a more pragmatic approach, with consensus and support of peers in the scientific community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

A Polyphasic Approach Reveals Novel Genotypes and Updates the Genetic Structure of the Banana Fusarium Wilt Pathogen

et al. 2022

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Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is a soil-borne fungus that causes Fusarium wilt, a destructive plant disease that has resulted in devastating economic losses to banana production worldwide. The fungus has a complex evolutionary history and taxonomic repute and consists of three pathogenic races and at least 24 vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs). Surveys conducted in Asia, Africa, the Sultanate of Oman and Mauritius encountered isolates of F. oxysporum pathogenic to banana that were not compatible to any of the known Foc VCGs. Genetic relatedness between the undescribed and known Foc VCGs were determined using a multi-gene phylogeny and diversity array technology (DArT) sequencing. The presence of putative effector genes, the secreted in xylem (SIX) genes, were also determined. Fourteen novel Foc VCGs and 17 single-member VCGs were identified. The multi-gene tree was congruent with the DArT-seq phylogeny and divided the novel VCGs into three clades. Clustering analysis of the DArT-seq data supported the separation of Foc isolates into eight distinct clusters, with the suite of SIX genes mostly conserved within these clusters. Results from this study indicates that Foc is more diverse than hitherto assumed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

A Polyphasic Approach Reveals Novel Genotypes and Updates the Genetic Structure of the Banana Fusarium Wilt Pathogen

et al. 2022

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“…cubense Tropical Race 4 as a distinct species called Fusarium odoratissimum . However, this proposal has been questioned by Torres Bedoya et al ( 2021 ) who, based on the results of their studies, considered that this change was premature and not sufficiently substantiated. Therefore, in the present Pest categorisation, the scientific name Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.…”

Section: Pest Categorisationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pest categorisation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4

Bragard¹,

Baptista²,

Chatzivassiliou³

et al. 2022

EFS2

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The EFSA Plant Health Panel performed a pest categorisation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4), an ascomycete fungus causing Fusarium wilt (Panama disease) on Musa spp. Foc TR4 is pathogenic to the commercial banana varieties including those of the 'Cavendish' group and is considered as the most destructive among Foc haplotypes. Uncertainty exists on the host range of Foc TR4, since it has not been demonstrated whether it can infect plant species other than Musa spp., which were previously reported as hosts of other Foc races. Foc TR4 is morphologically and physiologically identical to other representatives of the Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex (FOSC), but all Foc TR4 isolates belong to a single clonal lineage within the vegetative compatibility groups 01213-01216. Several PCR protocols are described in the literature, but their specificity has been questioned as they may generate false positives. The pathogen is not included in EU Commission Implementing Regulation 2019/2072 and is not reported as present in the EU territory. Several potential entry pathways and means of spread were identified, including host plants for planting other than vitroplants, fresh fruits and leaves of host plants, soil and other substrates originating in infested third countries. Host availability and climate suitability occurring in some areas of the EU are favourable for the establishment of Foc TR4. Being a soil-borne pathogen, eradication of Foc TR4 once it enters a new area is very difficult. Therefore, effective quarantine measures are essential in pathogen-free areas. Although not specifically targeting against Foc TR4, phytosanitary measures are currently available to prevent the introduction of the pathogen into the EU. Considering that bananagrowing EU countries account for over 12% of the EU banana supply, it is expected that the economic impact of Foc TR4 on the European banana production areas would be devastating. Foc TR4 satisfies the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for this pathogen to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

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“…The validity of this reclassification has been challenged due to the inability of others to replicate the results and the identification of potential errors in the published phylogenies (Torres Bedoya et al, 2021). While there is sufficient evidence that some species within the complex have distinct characteristic phenotypic features that support the proposed idea of new species, these taxonomic revisions have been challenged for not being robustly and strongly supported by publicly available molecular sequence data (Crous et al, 2021;Torres Bedoya et al, 2021). Proposals of changes to pathogen taxonomy, without sufficient validation, justification and strong evidence, can produce adverse consequences.…”

Section: A Ss Ifi C Ati On Sys Tems Of Fo Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnostics of Fusarium wilt in banana: Current status and challenges

Roberts,

Carvalhais,

O'Dwyer

et al. 2024

Plant Pathology

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Global banana production is under threat from the rapidly spreading pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4 (TR4), which is pathogenic to Cavendish and many other varieties. Due to the absence of effective control methods and the lack of other market‐acceptable resistant cultivars, early diagnostics, containment and quarantine measures are important to limit further spread and impact of this pathogen. Early detection and identification of the pathogen require reliable diagnostic assays. The reliability of a molecular diagnostic assay is directly linked to the rigour applied at validating the assay according to predetermined standards. For specific detection of a target pathogen using molecular diagnostics, a well‐resolved taxonomy of the target and related species based on their evolutionary relationships is also required. The advent of sequence‐based phylogenetic analysis has given rise to new insights regarding the taxonomic classification of Foc and provided proof for the polyphyletic origin of Foc races, complicating early and reliable detection of the pathogen. Although numerous diagnostic methods for Foc have been developed, choosing a rigorously validated and fit‐for‐purpose method for adoption is currently challenging as advantages and drawbacks for each assay are not always obvious or put into context with prior methodologies. This review compiles and critically dissects published methods that are reported to detect Foc to date and highlights their benefits and constraints to provide a valuable reference for diagnosticians, researchers and policy makers worldwide.

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Taxonomic Revision of the Banana Fusarium Wilt TR4 Pathogen Is Premature

Cited by 24 publications

References 39 publications

A Polyphasic Approach Reveals Novel Genotypes and Updates the Genetic Structure of the Banana Fusarium Wilt Pathogen

A Polyphasic Approach Reveals Novel Genotypes and Updates the Genetic Structure of the Banana Fusarium Wilt Pathogen

Pest categorisation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4

Diagnostics of Fusarium wilt in banana: Current status and challenges

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