**5. Future directions**

Plant-microbial interactions, ecological soil conditions, and the use of chemical and biological control agents to suppress soilborne pathogens play a significant role in the successful growth of plants. There is limited research investigating the importance of root exudates, intraspecific variation due to Fusarium infection. There is also a significant research gap in understanding the genetic control of Fusarium spore germination, its pathogenicity, and vascular occlusion that results in plant diseases. Therefore, these key research areas should be investigated further to ameliorate our understanding of the Fusarium organisms to improve the control of soilborne pathogens.
