Gene-edited fungus could protect global banana supply from Fusarium wilt

In a major step for one of the world’s top banana-producing nations, Ecuadorian researchers are using gene editing to disarm the fungus responsible for Fusarium wilt, a disease that threatens global banana supply and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc), blocks water and nutrients in banana plants and is nearly impossible to control — especially the aggressive Tropical Race 4 strain, which can persist in soil for decades.

To counter this, scientists developed an in vitro CRISPR-Cas9 method that targets and deactivates the fungus’s SIX9 gene, a key virulence factor. Their study, published in Frontiers in Plant Science, showed that disabling this gene significantly reduces the pathogen’s ability to cause disease.

The strategy marks a shift from traditional measures like quarantine or field eradication. Editing the pathogen itself opens the door to weakened strains for research or potential bioagents that could compete with harmful variants.

The work positions Ecuador as a regional leader in agricultural biotechnology and underscores the importance of innovative tools to protect banana production amid climate pressures and rising global demand.

source: phys.org

photo: voxdev.org