Banana Diseases and Pests: Field Guide for Diagnostics and Data Collection

• Authors : Viljoen, A.; Mahuku, G.; Massawe, C.; Ssali, R.T.; Kimunye, J.; Mostert, D.; Ndayihanzamaso, P.; Coyne, D.


• Document type : Book


• Year of publication : 2017


• Publisher(s) : International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)


• Place of publication : Nairobi


• ISBN : 978-978-8444-80-0


• Pages : 73


• Language(s) : English


• Abstract : The Field Guide for Disease Diagnostics and Data Collection of banana pests and diseases was produced within the framework of the project "Improvement of banana for smallholder farmers in the Great Lakes Region of Africa". The project focuses on producing high-yielding banana hybrids by developing host plant resistance to four important pests and pathogens: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, which causes Fusarium wilt, Mycosphaerella spp., which cause Sigatoka leaf spots, as well as weevils and nematodes. The field guide was prepared to assist banana scientists, technical staff and extension officers to collect pathogens and pests from testing and breeding sites in Uganda and Tanzania. These will then be sent for identification and characterization to Stellenbosch University in South Africa, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) in Uganda, and the Horticultural Research and Training Institute (ARI-HORTI) in Tanzania. This is to ensure that field evaluation of hybrids and banana breeding efforts are performed against all variants of banana pathogens and pests. Methods to evaluate NARITA hybrids and other breeding materials for resistance to the target pathogens and pests are also presented. To accelerate the breeding process, early plant screening methods are proposed for Fusarium wilt, Mycosphaerella spp., weevils and nematodes.


• Keywords : DISEASE RESISTANCE; EVALUATION; DATA COLLECTION; SCREENING; PROTOCOL


• Open access : Yes


• PDF :


• Musalit document ID : IN170255

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