Banana is one of the most important fruits worldwide and a staple food for millions of people in developing countries. However, vegetative propagation of commercial cultivars results in a limited genetic background, making banana plants susceptible to disease infection. Conventional chemical control is typically inefficient, owing to the plant's inability to absorb significant quantities of chemicals in a short period of time. The overuse leads to chemical reagent resistance and a rise in environmental contamination. Furthermore, the inappropriate chemical application might result in a relatively high quantity of residues on banana fruits, posing human health risks through consumption. As a result, new technology and discoveries for integrated banana plant protection are urgently required.
Bananas and plantains are highly susceptible to diseases due to monoculture cultivation and the lack of sexual recombination. The most hazardous fungal pathogens are Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC), causing Panama disease, and Mycosphaerella musicola and M. fijiensis, causing yellow and black Sigatoka, respectively. Fungicide control of FOC is often difficult, and thus fungicide resistance management strategies are ineffective. In particular, M. fijiensis bears a high resistance risk and its control requires sound strategies. Also, Bananas are susceptible to diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and other fungi. Therefore, research into the prevention and control of banana diseases is critical to ensuring the healthy development of the banana industrial system.
This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, meta-analyses, short communications, perspectives, and opinion papers dealing with applied scientific aspects of banana plant pathology, plant health, plant protection, etc. Research articles submitted to this Research Topic must be hypothesis-driven and contain innovative microbiological discoveries that address the fundamental mechanics of microbial life at the molecular, cellular, and multicellular levels in banana disease management. Sub-topics can be, but are not limited to, as follow:
- The examination of pathogenic and symbiotic relationships between microbes and their hosts
- The exploration of the complexities of the microbiome and the genetic, physiological as well as virulence mechanisms that shape host-microbe relationships
- Reports about antimicrobial chemicals and their resistance mechanisms
In addition, we have a significant interest in reports on banana disease control and integrated management using new technologies such as nanobiotechnology.
Banana is one of the most important fruits worldwide and a staple food for millions of people in developing countries. However, vegetative propagation of commercial cultivars results in a limited genetic background, making banana plants susceptible to disease infection. Conventional chemical control is typically inefficient, owing to the plant's inability to absorb significant quantities of chemicals in a short period of time. The overuse leads to chemical reagent resistance and a rise in environmental contamination. Furthermore, the inappropriate chemical application might result in a relatively high quantity of residues on banana fruits, posing human health risks through consumption. As a result, new technology and discoveries for integrated banana plant protection are urgently required.
Bananas and plantains are highly susceptible to diseases due to monoculture cultivation and the lack of sexual recombination. The most hazardous fungal pathogens are Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC), causing Panama disease, and Mycosphaerella musicola and M. fijiensis, causing yellow and black Sigatoka, respectively. Fungicide control of FOC is often difficult, and thus fungicide resistance management strategies are ineffective. In particular, M. fijiensis bears a high resistance risk and its control requires sound strategies. Also, Bananas are susceptible to diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and other fungi. Therefore, research into the prevention and control of banana diseases is critical to ensuring the healthy development of the banana industrial system.
This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, meta-analyses, short communications, perspectives, and opinion papers dealing with applied scientific aspects of banana plant pathology, plant health, plant protection, etc. Research articles submitted to this Research Topic must be hypothesis-driven and contain innovative microbiological discoveries that address the fundamental mechanics of microbial life at the molecular, cellular, and multicellular levels in banana disease management. Sub-topics can be, but are not limited to, as follow:
- The examination of pathogenic and symbiotic relationships between microbes and their hosts
- The exploration of the complexities of the microbiome and the genetic, physiological as well as virulence mechanisms that shape host-microbe relationships
- Reports about antimicrobial chemicals and their resistance mechanisms
In addition, we have a significant interest in reports on banana disease control and integrated management using new technologies such as nanobiotechnology.