Bananas

Bananas (Musa acuminata Colla)

Black Soldier Fly (BSF) Frass & Derivatives (Hermetia illucens):

BSF frass and its fermented liquid derivatives improved banana disease suppression by reducing the severity of Fusarium wilt through enhanced soil biology, induced plant defense responses, and direct inhibition of pathogen growth.

Key Findings

• Composted BSF frass provided nutrient concentrations of N (4.04%), P (1.68%), and K (1.30%).

• Preventive soil treatments combining composted frass and fermented liquid derivative were most effective in reducing Fusarium wilt disease severity.

• The combined treatment reduced disease severity by 47.66% against the virulent pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4).

• Disease suppression may be linked to high chitin content and beneficial microbiota in frass.

• Microbial profiling showed composted frass dominated by Firmicutes (64%) and Actinobacteriota (23%), while the liquid derivative was enriched with Proteobacteria (44%), Planctomycetota (19%), and Bacteroidota (18%).

• Sterile frass filtrates significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of Foc TR4 in vitro.

• Plant growth responses (height, leaf number, etc.) were not significantly different during the first 3 weeks under greenhouse conditions.

Agronomic Implications

• BSF frass and its derivatives offer a biologically based disease suppression strategy for banana production.

• Best suited as a preventive treatment in soils at risk for or previously exposed to Fusarium wilt.

• Frass inputs may complement existing fertility programs or biological control agents for integrated disease management.

• Continued field trials are recommended to validate the impact on long-term yield and plant vigor.

Reference

Ong et al. (2025). Black soldier fly frass and its derivatives as biofungicide to control Fusarium wilt in bananas. Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research, 85(3), 469.