Induced resistance to Fusarial wilt of banana by menadione sodium bisulphite treatments

The soilborne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense is the causal agent of banana vascular wilt disease named Panama disease and one of the most serious threats to banana crops worldwide. A water-soluble addition compound of vitamin K-3, menadione sodium bisulphite (MSB), first studied as a plant growth regulator, has recently been shown to induce resistance against Panama disease. Effective fungicides are not yet available to control this fatal disease. Here we report on two independent long-term experiments leading to the enhanced resistance response induced by MSB. The results demonstrated that MSB is an effective resistance activator in banana, and a potentially useful agent for the control of Panama disease. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.