The Microbiome of Banana and Its Role in Managing Fusarium Wilt Disease

Plants are associated with diverse microorganisms that collectively form a microbial community called the microbiome. Distinct microbial communities are found in different plant niches, including the endosphere, rhizosphere, and phyllosphere, and can directly or indirectly impact plant growth and health. Banana (Musa spp.) is an important crop in the sub-tropics and tropics and plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers. However, worldwide banana production is constrained by the Fusarium wilt disease, caused by the soil-borne pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Significant efforts have been made to decipher banana-associated microbiome and their correlations with the host plant and pathogens, particularly the most virulent strain of Foc, Tropical Race 4 (TR4). This information is critical to manipulating beneficial traits of the soil–plant microbiome to suppress the Fusarium wilt disease of bananas and ensure global food security. Herein, we summarize the current state of knowledge on the banana microbiome and detail the use of microbial consortia to improve the crop’s health and overall performance. In addition, this chapter also discussed the emerging strategies toward sustainable routes to Fusarium wilt disease management using banana microbiome and the key challenges that remain.