Response of Musa acuminata subsp. malaccensis towards Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4

The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of Musa acuminata subsp. malaccensis towards Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4. The research was started with acclimatization of tissue-culture Musa acuminata subsp. malaccensis plantlets followed by screening the response of Musa acuminata subsp. malaccensis towards Fusarium wilt TR4.The acclimatization was conducted in two methods comprising direct planting into the soil and soaking in tap water before transferring the plantlets into the soil. Fifty five plantlets were successfully survived after both acclimatization methods. FOC TR4 conidial suspensions were prepared at 5 X 106 spores per ml for inoculation. A total of 49 plantlets were chosen which correspond to the height of more than and less than 15 cm for disease screening section by using double tray method. Disease Severity Index is used to evaluate the disease response by examining the Leaf Severity Index (LSI) and Rhizome Discoloration Index (RDI). Results obtained show no significant differences in the DSI of height less than 15cm (3.5000 ± .70711) and DSI of height more than 15cm (3.0833 ±.90034. These results suggested that the height of Musa acuminata subsp. malaccensis between more than and less than 15 cm do not have distinct effects towards the response to the disease since every plantlets had been affected by the disease. Results also suggested that physiological factor (height) may influence the disease development due to plant fitness.