Peruvian media reports that Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) has been detected in 72 hectares of bananas in Piura region, in the northwestern part of the country.
Josué Carrasco, the general director of Plant Health at Senasa, said the fungus was contained in the province of Sullana to prevent it from spreading.
According to Carrasco, it is necessary to implement restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the soil-borne fungus since it has no cure and can have severe effects on the national banana and plantation crops of 170,000 hectares.
There has been significant development in finding a remedy for this disease. But the testing is in preliminary stages. Please read Partnership between ICAR and Innoterra to fight banana crop disease
Fusarium TR4 threatens organic bananas on around 17,000 hectares in the Piura region.
It is not known what has caused the TR4 fungus to arrive in Piura. Neither illegal imports of exotic plants nor foreign travelers can be ruled out, Senasa said.
Senasa stated that Piura is the only region in the country where Fusarium TR4 has been detected and stressed that it is being continuously monitored.
As part of Senasa’s fight to contain the fungus, six checkpoints are set up throughout the banana and plantain-growing areas of Sullana.
Over 2300 vehicles were disinfected by these checkpoints as well as inspected for movement of prohibited vegetative material.
