Roving Survey of Panama Wilt Disease (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense) of Banana in Bihar

A survey of Panama wilt of banana was conducted in different districts of Bihar i.e. Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Katihar, Purnea, Bhagalpur, Kishanganj and Saharsa. This disease was present in all the districts with different levels of percent wilt index. In the Vaishali belt (Zone–I), the maximum percent wilt index was recorded in the Vaishali district (30-45%) in cv. Malbhog (AAB) having sucker planting material in the year 2019-20. In the Koshi belt (Zone-II), the percent wilt index (External symptom) was highest in Purnea district (34-42%) in cv. Robusta (AAA) followed by district Saharsa (28-40%) and Kishanganj (25-38%). The lowest percent wilt index was found in districts Bhagalpur (22-38%) and Katihar (24-38%) in the year 2019-20. Panama wilt of banana caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 was recorded in the Koshi belt (Zone-II) having cv. Grand naine (AAA) and cv. Robusta (AAA) in Bihar only. While in Vaishali belt (Zone-I) was free from incidence of Fusarium wilt of banana incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4.