Identifying and managing plant health risks for key African crops: banana and plantain

Publication date: 07/02/2019
Extent: 30 pages

Contributions by: Stefan Hauser, IITA, Nigeria; Clifford Gold, Nevada City, USA; Cornelia Pasberg-Gauhl and Friedhelm Gauhl, FG-Inter-Agro-Consult KG, Austria; Juliet Akello, IITA, Zambia; Kim Jacobsen, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Belgium; Lindsey Norgrove, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland; Daniel Coyne, IITA, Kenya; P. Lava Kumar, IITA, Nigeria; George Mahuku, Manoj Kaushal, IITA, Tanzania; Valentine Nakato, IITA, Uganda; and Leena Tripathi and Jaindra Tripathi, IITA, Kenya

Chapter synopsis: Many smallholder farmers in humid sub-Saharan Africa rely on bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) as major staple food and income generating crops, with only a negligible portion traded internationally. Banana and plantain production is mainly threatened by various pathogens and pests. This chapter describes the major diseases including fungal diseases (Fusarium wilt, black sigatoka), viral diseases (banana bunchy top and banana streak virus), bacterial disease (banana Xanthomonas wilt) and pests such as nematodes and weevil, affecting bananas and plantains.. The chapter also describes measures used to manage and control these diseases and pests.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2018.0043.10