- Colombia has declared a national emergency after Fusarium (TR4) fungus was detected in soil in La Guajira.
- Fusarium (TR4) fungus causes Fusarium wilt disease in banana plants. It is also known as Panama disease. The fungus attacks the roots and blocks the plants’ vascular systems
- Fusarium (TR4) was first detected in the 1990s in Malaysia and Indonesia and later spread to China. In 2013, it was detected in West Asia and Africa.
- There is no viable, fully effective treatment of soil to control Fusarium wilt in the field. Further, the fungus’ resting spores can remain in the soil for decades.
