ACTIcon™ Biopesticide for Cavendish Banana

The Philippines is the most stable export market of Japan for cavendish bananas. With the easing of tariff rates on banana exports, banana growers can take advantage of this chance to take a greater share of the market. However, controlling a deadly disease in cavendish bananas may hinder local banana growers from realizing this potential.

ACTICon is a biopesticide product for controlling Fusarium wilt or Panama disease, which commonly attacks Cavendish bananas. The disease is caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cubense (Foc), and the strain of this fungus (TR4) cannot be controlled using fungicides nor eradicated using fumigants. ACTICon is a mixture of actinomycetes or microbes naturally occurring in soil that have shown activity against this fungal pathogen. Field trials have shown 24-33% mortality rates on plants treated with ACTICon compared to the 100% mortality rate in untreated plants. These results indicate the high potential of ACTICon as an effective biopesticide for controlling Fusarium wilt and possibly help banana growers in protecting their livelihood.