Aggregate water-stability, particle-size and soil solution properties in conducive and suppressive soils to Fusarium wilt of banana from Canary Islands (Spain)

The influence of several soil properties on soil conduciveness or suppressiveness to disease caused by the soil fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense was studied in seven field plots of banana plantations, situated in Tenerife and Gran Canaria islands (Canary Islands, Spain). In each plot, soil samples were taken in conducive and suppressive areas to Fusarium wilt. Water-stable aggregates (WSA: 200–2000 μm diameter), soil particle size, and selected soil solution characteristics [pH, electric conductivity (EC) and soluble Na] were determined in the samples. Aggregate water-stability was higher in soils of conducive areas than in suppressive areas. The percentage of WSA in the conducive areas ranged from 460 to 330 g kg−1, while in the suppressive areas the maximum value was 285 g kg−1 and the minimum was 150 g kg−1. The soils had high clay content and the EC and soluble Na tended to be higher in suppressive areas than in conducive areas. Soil solution pH was lower in conducive areas (except sites 1 and 9). Our data provide evidence that in different soil areas of the same plot, the structural stability of aggregates, presumably controlled in part by the clay fraction, soluble Na concentration and EC, is of great importance for the conduciveness or suppressiveness to banana wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense of the soils studied. Finally, we hypothesize that a greater stability of the aggregates forming anaerobiosis could partly explain most of the available Fe found in soil areas where the disease was severe, at least in these types of soils.