Update on the situation of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 in Israel
As reported in EPPO RS 2018/106, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 was first found in Israel in 2016 at two separate locations and subsequently eradicated. Recent ongoing intensive surveillance operations have discovered a further outbreak at a number of sites in close proximity to one of these locations (in the eastern/southern Lake Galilee area). As before, the infected sites have been confined and placed under strict supervision by the NPPO of Israel. Infected banana mats (=stools), as well as a buffer of five mats radius, have been immediately fenced off and all plants destroyed in-situ. All plantations with infected sites have also been fenced off, access restricted and entry allowed only under strict quarantine conditions. Water ditches have been dug around the fenced areas to prevent spread of spores in rain water.
The pest status of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense TR4 in Israel is officially declared as: Actionable, under eradication.
Sources
NPPO of Israel (2019-03).