Advancing the battle against panama disease: a critical appraisal of global biocontrol research and applications.

BACKGROUND: Banana, the fourth most important food crop globally, is severely threatened by Panama disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). The continued spread of Foc tropical race 4 (TR4), with recent first reports in Peru and Venezuela, demands renewed attention and a critical reevaluation of eco-friendly management strategies. Biocontrol has emerged as a promising approach, but its efficacy varies widely across studies and geographic regions, and a comprehensive synthesis of research trends and outcomes is lacking. AIM OF REVIEW: This review critically synthesizes the past decade of biocontrol research on Panama disease, examining geographic and taxonomic trends, biocontrol efficiency, and methodological factors including strain isolation sources, pathogen races, plant growth media, soil amendments, and application methods. We aim to identify persistent patterns alongside novel developments, critically evaluate outcomes, discuss reasons for inconsistencies, and provide future recommendations to achieve the greatest success in combating Panama disease. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: A systematic literature search yielded 123 studies, which were analyzed using random-effects meta-analysis with logit transformation. Research trends vary significantly by country and microbial group, revealing distinct regional and taxonomic methodological approaches and success rates. Overall, Streptomyces and Trichoderma emerged as the most effective genera, particularly against Foc TR4, with optimal conditions identified as: sterilized medium or field conditions, without amendments, multiple-strain SynComs, non-banana bulk soil isolates, multiple applications, and soil drenching or dual-application methods. However, current research remains geographically centralized and taxonomically narrow. Efficacy is highly context-dependent, shaped by geography, microbial genus, and methodological factors. The review identifies critical knowledge gaps, including limited field validation, incomplete reporting of experimental parameters, and publication bias, and calls for standardized reporting, expanded exploration of understudied regions and microbial sources, and integrated, multi-disciplinary approaches to translate research into practical solutions for sustainable banana production.