Soil-borne fungal pathogens from the genus Fusaria limit the cultivation of more than a hundred plant species including bananas cotton tomato potato and sugar beet. The pathogens causing Fusarium wilt invade and colonize plant roots which leads to rotting. Present methods for the control of soil-born fungi include: breeding for resistance (if feasible) soil fumigation with volatile chemicals and solarization. There is currently no effective method to control Fusarium wilt and the fungus is highly resistant to fungicides.
The art and science of controlling or directing crop production. Its objective is to provide useful food and fiber products for society at reasonable costs to the consumer and with an acceptable margin of profit for the producer.