cubense (Pronunciationⓘ) is a fungal plant pathogen that causes Panama disease of banana (Musa spp.

Fusarium oxysporum is a common inhabitant of soil[1] and produces three types of asexual spores: macroconidia, microconidia and chlamydospores.

[5] Four races of this pathogen have been described which attack different banana cultivars: A ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis by Kurtz and Schouten 2009 failed to distinguish some F. oxysporum isolates merely endophytic on Musa from pathogenic Foc strains.

[6] Although it is a soil-borne pathogen, it does not compete well against other soil microbes for growth on dead buried tissue.

Other post-sequencing data analysis performed by the disequilibrium study also failed to reject recombination however this could be consistent with horizontal transfer.

Horizontal transfer has been experimentally induced and appears to have been proven in Focs past and so seems the more likely explanation.

[11] Tropical Race 1/TR1 is also found in Paspalum fasciculatum, Panicum purpurescens, Ixophorus unisetus, and Commelina diffusa in Central America.

[7][13] Formerly reported to be a lesser pest of Musa balbisiana seedlings and of Gros Michel, but that is no longer thought to be true.

Foc strain TR4 [16][17] Tropical Race 4/TR4 belongs to vegetative compatibility group 01213/16.

[6] Much research is being undertaken because of the urgency in formulating effective control methods for Panama disease and breeding resistant banana cultivars.

Results of this study show that it is not monophyletic and appears to have multiple evolutionary origins.

[23] Identification, differentiation, and usage of vegetative compatibility groups is useful and valid within Foc because there are relatively few VCGs.