The cardamom-Fusarium pathosystem: current knowledge and future directions

Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), known as the "Queen of Spices," is severely affected by rot diseases caused by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht, leading to significant crop losses globally. This review provides an overview about the plant, its pathogen F. oxysporum and the biocontrol agents used. The pathogenesis of the fungus, the host defence mechanisms and the mechanisms used by biocontrol agents like Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma harzianum, and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are discussed. F. oxysporum is a globally recognized pathogen responsible for wilting diseases in a wide range of economically important plants, including tomato, watermelon, asparagus, potato, banana, cucumber, pepper, chickpea, cotton, and more. Additionally, it is known to cause rot disease in cardamom. This review also recognizes the lacunae in plant pathology research in this pathosystem and highlights future research approaches that are needed to improve our understanding of cardamom-Fusarium biology and to find effective biocontrols. At this point, it is imperative to support studies that examine the physiological and genetic responses of the organisms involved as well as extensive omic research to create a model of the interactions between cardamom, Fusarium, and the biocontrol agent. Development of specific techniques for microscopic visualization of the interactions and in vitro growth of cardamom seedlings will accelerate this research. These strategies hold potential for mitigating the devastating impact of F. oxysporum on cardamom cultivation.