Bananas are a key food source for millions, whilst their production supports the livelihood of farmers across the globe. However, recent research has identified the vulnerability of particular banana varieties to major pests and diseases. With the banana industry under threat of extinction, more research is required into understanding the biology of the pests and diseases that pose this threat so that more effective management strategies can be developed and the risk of future outbreaks reduced.
Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas Volume 3: Diseases and pests provides a comprehensive review of the major pests and diseases affecting global banana production including Tropical Race 4, black Sigatoka and banana streak virus. The book explores existing methods for pest/disease diagnosis and identification, current management strategies used to control and/or prevent outbreaks, as well as the development of disease-resistant cultivars and integrated pest and disease management programmes.
Part 1 Fungal diseases 1.The Sigatoka leaf disease complex in banana: Jean Carlier, Luc De Lapeyre De Bellaire, Catherine Abadie, Marc Chillet and Dominique Carval, CIRAD, France; Robert Neil Gerard Miller, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil; Thangavelu R., National Centre for Banana Research – ICAR, India; and Josué Essoh Ngando, CARBAP, Cameroon; 2.Controlling black leaf streak disease (BLSD) in banana: the case of Costa Rica: Pablo Chong, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Ecuador; Claudiana Carr and Gilberth Murillo, National Banana Corporation (CORBANA) and Cropland Biosciences, Costa Rica; Mauricio Guzmán, Cropland Biosciences, Costa Rica; Randy Villalobos and Jorge Sandoval, National Banana Corporation (CORBANA) and Cropland Biosciences, Costa Rica; and Gert H. J. Kema, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; 3.Freckle disease of banana: André Drenth, The University of Queensland, Australia; and Mee Hua Wong, Agriculture Research Centre Semongok, Malaysia; 4.Fusarium wilt of banana: impact, epidemiology and management of Fusarium wilt Race 1 and 2: Einar Martínez de la Parte, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands and Instituto de Investigaciones de Sanidad Vegetal (INISAV), Cuba; and Luis Pérez-Vicente, Instituto de Investigaciones de Sanidad Vegetal (INISAV), Cuba; 5.The past, present and future of Fusarium wilt of banana caused by Tropical Race 4: Fernando García-Bastidas, KeyGene B.V., The Netherlands; André Drenth, The University of Queensland, Australia; and Gert H. J. Kema, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; 6.Towards sustainable management of Fusarium wilt of banana: André Drenth, The University of Queensland, Australia; and Gert H. J. Kema, Wageningen University, The Netherlands; 7.Minor fungal diseases of banana: Luis Ernesto Pocasangre, Director of Research – EARTH University, Costa Rica; and Alfonso Martinuz, Especialista en Agricultura de la FAO para Nicaragua, Nicaragua; Part 2 Bacterial and phytoplasma diseases 8.Moko bacterial wilt of banana: Mauricio Guzmán, Cropland Biosciences, Costa Rica; Marylin Sánchez, Mycelium Crop Science, Costa Rica; Ricardo Villalta, Independent Consultant, Costa Rica; Leonardo Pérez, Independent Consultant, Costa Rica; and Claudiana Carr, National Banana Corporation (CORBANA) and Cropland Biosciences, Costa Rica; 9.Banana Blood disease: Jane Ray, Northern Territory Government, Australia; Siti Subandiyah, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia; and André Drenth, The University of Queensland, Australia; 10.Xanthomonas wilt of banana: Guy Blomme, The Alliance of Bioversity International and The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Ethiopia; Elizabeth Kearsley, BlueGreen Labs, Belgium; and Walter Ocimati, The Alliance of Bioversity International and The International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) Uganda; 11.Bacterial soft rot of banana: Luis Pérez-Vicente, Institute of Plant Health Research (INISAV), Cuba; and Armando García-Suárez, Central Plant Quarantine Laboratory (LCCV) of Central Unit of Laboratories (ULCSA), Cuba; 12.Phytoplasma diseases of banana plants: Lilia C. Carvalhais, The University of Queensland, Australia; and Richard Davis, Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia; Part 3 Viral diseases 13.Banana bunchy top virus: John E. Thomas, The University of Queensland, Australia; 14.Banana streak disease: Andrew D. W. Geering, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Australia; 15.Other viral pathogens of banana: Andrew D. W. Geering, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Australia; Part 4 Nematode pests 16.Nematodes in banana: Mieke Daneel, Agricultural Research Council – Tropical and Subtropical Crops/North-West University, South Africa; and Akhona Mbatyoti, Agricultural Research Council – Tropical and Subtropical Crops, South Africa; 17.Towards sustainable management of nematodes in banana: Anthony B. Pattison and Jennifer A. Cobon, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Australia; Mario Araya-Vargas, AMVAC Chemical Corporation, Costa Rica; and Christian Chabrier, CIRAD, France; Part 5 Insect pests 18.The banana weevil borer: César Guillén Sanchez, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica; 19.Banana Red Rust thrips: Frans Wielemaker Sanderse, Consultant (formerly Director of Research at Dole Fresh Fruit International), Costa Rica; 20.Managing banana bunch pests: towards more ecological approaches: Charles Staver, Agricultural Scientist, USA; Luud Clercx, AgroFair, The Netherlands; Myriam Arias, INIAP, Ecuador; César Guillén Sanchez, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica; Lieselot van der Veken, Pro Terra Agro, Belgium; and Marco Antonio Oviedo Cajas, Banana Specialist, Ecuador; Part 6 Fruit diseases 21.Management of diseases on banana fruit in the field: Marc Jackson, Global Fruit Protection, Australia; 22.Postharvest diseases of bananas and their sustainable management: M. Gloria Lobo and Goretti Díaz-Delgado, Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias (ICIA), Spain; and Francisco Javier Fernández-Rojas, Cooperativa Platanera de Canarias (COPLACA), Spain;
Dr André Drenth is Professor in Tropical Plant Pathology and Program Leader for crop protection in the Centre for Horticultural Science at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), at the University of Queensland. He leads several projects on tropical plant diseases and he initiated and led a national Banana Plant Protection Programme set up to protect Australia’s banana industry from the impact of a range of pests and diseases. Dr Gert H. J. Kema is Professor of Phytopathology and chair at the Laboratory for Phytopathology of Wageningen University, The Netherlands. He initiated and coordinated several international banana research programs focusing on Fusarium wilt of banana and black Sigatoka as well as interdisciplinary research projects and public-private-partnerships on other perennial crops. He is a cofounder of several spin-off companies focusing on banana improvement, disease management and bioprocessing. Frans Wielemaker is an independent consultant and Director of TRANSASTRA - a materials input company for organic banana farmers. Frans previously worked for Dole Fresh Fruit International for 33 years, of which the latter he spent as their Director of Research. He is internationally-recognised throughout the Latin American banana industry due to his pioneering role in the development of Dole's Organic Program in 1995. Frans has contributed significantly to the research community and has published work in journals and books.
