Biotechnology from the tropics: Ecuador fights back against the fungus that withers bananas

Ecuadorian scientists are developing a biotechnological strategy to stop banana wilt by genetically editing the causative fungus.

Global banana production—one of the pillars of food security and a key source of income for tropical countries—faces a persistent threat: Fusarium wilt.
This devastating disease is caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc), a pathogen that colonizes banana roots, disrupts the transport of water and nutrients, and ultimately kills the plant.

For decades, Fusarium wilt has posed a major challenge to global agriculture. Its economic impact is particularly severe in countries like Ecuador, the world’s largest banana exporter, where banana cultivation sustains thousands of jobs and significantly contributes to international trade.
The problem has worsened with the emergence of Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4), a more aggressive variant that has spread across continents and can persist in soil for decades—making eradication virtually impossible through conventional methods such as fungicides or strict quarantines.

The inability to effectively control Fusarium wilt with traditional strategies has driven the search for innovative solutions.

CRISPR-Cas9: the precision tool to weaken the enemy

Faced with this scenario, a team of Ecuadorian researchers developed a biotechnological strategy based on in vitro genetic editing using CRISPR-Cas9, targeting the fungus responsible for the disease. This precision tool enables targeted cuts in the microorganism’s DNA, deactivating key genes that facilitate its ability to infect.

The study focused on the SIX9 gene, a component of the Secreted in Xylem (SIX) gene family. These genes are expressed by the fungus during plant colonization and play a crucial role in its virulence. By deactivating the SIX9 gene, the researchers weakened the fungus’s ability to cause disease, reducing its aggressiveness at the molecular level.

This approach represents a major shift from traditional phytosanitary management strategies. Instead of acting on the plant or relying on costly measures such as crop eradication, genetic editing of the pathogen opens the possibility of generating attenuated strains that could serve as study models or even as bioagents to outcompete more dangerous variants in the field. Moreover, this type of intervention is rapid, replicable, and scalable, facilitating its adoption by other research centers.

Beyond its technical merit, this research positions Ecuador as a regional leader in agricultural biotechnology. Protecting banana production not only safeguards a strategic economic sector but also provides an innovative model that can be replicated in other tropical regions affected by Fusarium wilt or other high-impact fungal diseases.

The study, titled “Optimization of a CRISPR-Cas9 in vitro protocol for targeting the SIX9 gene of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense race 1 associated with banana Fusarium wilt,” demonstrates how local science can generate solutions with global reach, combining sustainability, food security, and resilience to emerging agricultural threats.

In a context marked by climate change, the globalization of agricultural trade, and increasing food demand, genetic editing is emerging as a strategic tool to tackle the complex challenges of tropical agriculture. Research like this shows how biotechnology can transform critical problems into opportunities to build more sustainable and competitive agricultural systems for the future.

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