Can fungal endophytes control soilborne pests in banana?

A variety of endophytic fungi were isolated from banana corm and root tissue and screened in vivo for activity against banana weevils, nematodes (Radopholus similis) and Fusariwn wilt, key pests and diseases of banana. The most promising strains were selected for inoculation onto tissue culture banana plants. The selected strains were able to colonize tissue-culture banana when plants were inoculated at an early stage. Inoculation of endophytes could lead to, depending on fungal isolate and banana clone, smaller weevil larvae, reduced weevil damage and reduced nematode multiplication. However, inoculation of endophytes did not reduce disease expression of Fusariurn wilt in these experiments. The results provide evidence on the potential for use of fungal endophytes for banana weevil and nematode management during early plant developmental stages of banana. Longterm pest and disease management might involve persistence of the fungal endophyte or the activation of effective and durable plant defense responses in bananas. Use of Fusarium oxysporom endophytes for the management of Fusarium wilt of banana appears to hold less promise.