CHARACTERIZATION OF A UNIQUE POPULATION OF FUSARIUM-OXYSPORUM F SP CUBENSE CAUSING FUSARIUM-WILT IN CAVENDISH BANANAS AT CARNARVON, WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

A unique population of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense affecting Cav endish cv. Williams banana plants was characterized using vegetative c ompatibility, volatile production, RAPD-PCR analysis, pectic enzyme pr oduction and pathogenicity. The isolates were more like race 1 isolate s than race 4 isolates, although they were capable of attacking Cavend ish clones. The Carnarvon isolates did not belong to any of the Vegeta tive compatibility groups (VCGs) known to occur in Australia or overse as; they belonged in the 'inodoratum' volatile group; they had 29% gen etic similarity to race 4 isolates and 76% similarity to race 1 isolat es based on RAPD-PCR banding patterns; they belonged in the same pecti c zymogram group as race 1 isolates and were virulent on 3-month-old C avendish cv. Williams, Gros Michel and Pisang Gajih Merah plants in gl asshouse tests.