Vegetative compatibility group analysis of Indonesian Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense isolates

Abstract

As part of an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)-funded project, vegetative compatibility group (VCG) analysis was used to characterise isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) collected from 12 Indonesian provinces. Samples were taken almost exclusively from cultivated bananas (around 20 different cultivars) in smallholder and backyard plots. In total, 178 isolates were received and, of these, 135 have been assigned a VCG. Isolates have tested positive for the following VCGs or VCG complexes: 0120/15, 0121, 0123, 0124/5, 0126, 01213/16, 01218 and 01219. VCG 01213/16 (the so-called tropical race 4, TR4) was by far the most prevalent strain detected, accounting for approximately 60% of the positive results. It was most commonly isolated from the cultivars 'Barangan' (syn. 'Lakatan', AAA) and 'Pisang Raja' (AAB) and was detected in Sumatra (Aceh and West Sumatra), Java (West Java and Yogyakarta), Kalimantan (West and East Kalimantan), Sulawesi (South East and North Sulawesi) and Papua. These findings highlight the wide distribution of Foc TR4 in Indonesia and the importance of managing its spread. © International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS)