 | DA’s new banana cultivar to solve wilting disease |
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da.gov.ph; 02 March 2015 Banana growers in Davao region now have an alternative variety to resist Fusarium Wilt or Panama Disease with the introduction of the Giant Cavendish tissue-culture variant (GCTCV 219) by the Department of Agriculture (DA). According to DA plant breeders, the GCTCV 219 banana variety is sweeter than the Grande Naine variety. Also, it has significantly higher starch levels (which convert into sugars during ripening), more titratable solids and fewer acids. During the recent Joint First Field Day of GCTCV 219 held at the Almocera Farm in Bagongon, Compostela Valley, banana growers and farm owners from Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley discussed the desirable qualities of the new variety. One of the advantages of the GCTCV 219 breed is its acceptability in the international market. Gilton Almocera, a research farmer cooperator said that he will be harvesting the first batch of his GCTCV 219 variety in May. Almocera said that he had lost millions of pesos with the infestation of Fusarium Wilt in his four-hectare banana plantation, since he had to increase his budget on pest eradication. “I thank the DA for extending its hand to us in addressing this problem. This has given banana farmers hope to rise again,” Almocera said. Meanwhile, Dr. Susan Razo, chief of the DA-Region 11 Integrated Laboratories Division encouraged the banana growers in Davao Region to submit the necessary documents in order to acquire the tissue-cultured seedlings. “After completion of the necessary documents, the beneficiaries will undergo training on how to grow the GCTCV 219 variety,” Razo said, adding that after the training, the farmer cooperators will also impart their knowledge to those who will avail the seedlings. This year, DA-Region11 has allotted a total of P102 million budget to combat Fusarium Wilt. Melani Provido, DA-Region11 High-Value Crops Development Program coordinator said in a recent interview that the budget was allotted due to the demand for appropriate interventions on such disease—from control and management, regulatory measures, and information dissemination. “Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala prioritized the program to eradicate if not minimize the spread of the disease, which could compromise the country’s booming banana industry,” Provido added. Fusarium Wilt is a destructive fungal disease of banana plants that can be described as a “classic” vascular wilt disease. The fungi invades the vascular tissue (xylem) through the roots, causing leaf discoloration and wilting. It attacks banana plants of all ages and spreads mainly through the soil. [(Che Palicte DA-11)] Reference: Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section (RAFIS) Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 11 F. Bangoy St., Davao City 8000 Tel Nos. (082) 224-5259 |
