Selection parameters for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1 and race 4 on diploid banana (Musa acuminata Colla)

Shoot tip cultures from banana clones susceptible and resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC) race 1 and race 4 were grown in vitro in the presence of different concentrations of fusaric acid and fungal crude filtrates or inoculated with a conidial suspension of FOC to assess correlation between in vivo and in vitro behaviour. Explants were susceptible to both filtrate and fusaric acid irrespective to their known field resistance/susceptibility response. No clear linkage between in vivo and in vitro behaviour was observed and our results suggest that the use of crude filtrate or non-host specific toxin (fusaric acid) in a screening programme for selecting a novel resistant genotype of Musa to FOC is not feasible. When peroxidase activity was used as a parameter to discriminate between sesceptibility and tolerance, results were in good agreement with field response of host plant to pathogens. Early enzymatic activity increased in the incompatible host-pathogen interaction but not in the compatible interaction.