Accessory Chromosome Contributes to Virulence of Banana Infecting Fusarium oxysporum Tropical Race 4

Scientists studied a dangerous fungal disease that destroys banana crops by examining a special extra chromosome found in the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum Tropical Race 4. They created mutant fungi without this chromosome and found that while the mutants could still grow normally in the lab, they became much less dangerous to banana plants. This discovery shows that this particular chromosome contains genes that help the fungus attack and infect bananas, suggesting potential new ways to combat this devastating crop disease.