March 01, 2023 | Horticulturae |
Embarking on a botanical exploration, researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia unravel the intricacies of Fusarium-related diseases that plague major tropical fruits—mango, banana, papaya, pineapple, and avocado. These fruits, cherished for their global trade significance and economic impact on growers, grapple with the formidable challenges posed by Fusarium. The study zeros in on Fusarium species, spotlighting F. oxysporum and F. solani as pervasive culprits, orchestrating diseases like root rot, vascular wilt, stem rot, and fruit rot in tropical regions. Augmenting the complexity, additional players such as F. incarnatum, F. proliferatum, and F. verticilliodes join the pathogenic ensemble, displaying a broad host spectrum and afflicting diverse plant components. In the context of the interconnected global fruit trade and the economic stakes tethered to these crops, the review unfolds a comprehensive narrative of diseases and Fusarium species. Acknowledging the dynamic nature of the tropical fruit landscape, the study advocates for the continual identification of causal pathogens to sculpt effective field and post-harvest strategies. Beyond routine diagnosis, the insights garnered herein serve as a foundational blueprint for navigating the intricacies of plant disease management and fortifying biosecurity measures in the tropical fruit domain.
