Yield and Fruit Quality Traits of Two Banana Cultivars Grown at Two Locations in Puerto Rico under Black Leaf Streak Disease Pressure

Banana (Musa acuminata AAA) is the most exported fruit worldwide and represents a major source of revenue for Central American and South American countries as well as the Caribbean region, among others. Black leaf streak disease (BLSD) or black sigatoka, caused by Pseudocercospora fijiensis (formerly Mycosphaerella fijiensis), is responsible for significant losses to this crop due to the high susceptibility of the most economically important cultivars. BLSD does not immediately kill banana plants, but it causes severe leaf necrosis that results in reduced photosynthetic area, thereby adversely impacting bunch weight and fruit production. Without cultural and chemical control, yields can be reduced by 20% to 80%, depending on severity. This study evaluated ‘FHIA-17’, a BLSD-resistant synthetic hybrid (AAAA), against ‘Grand Nain’, a standard commercial cultivar with no BLSD tolerance, at two locations in Puerto Rico on Ultisol (Corozal site) and Oxisol (Isabela site) soils where BLSD was not managed. Significantly lower bunch yield (45,990 kg·ha−1) and significantly fewer fruit (220,671 fruit/ha) were obtained at Corozal than at Isabela (53,755 kg·ha−1; 380,241 fruit/ha). Lower production at Corozal was the result of higher severity of BLSD at this location than at Isabela and to soil factors interfering with optimum nutrient uptake. Average fruit production of ‘FHIA-17’ was significantly higher than that of ‘Grand Nain’ at both locations, with bunch yields of 68,105 and 72, 634 kg·ha−1 at Corozal and Isabela, respectively. Fruit of the third-upper hand was significantly longer for ‘FHIA-17’ at Corozal but not different at Isabela; however, ‘FHIA-17’ fruit in this hand were of significantly greater diameter. Fruit in the last hand of ‘FHIA-17’ were significantly longer than in ‘Grand Nain’ at Corozal, but of significantly greater diameter at both locations. At both locations, the mean fruit weight was significantly higher in ‘FHIA-17’ than in ‘Grand Nain’. The number of functional leaves present at flowering and at harvest was significantly higher in ‘FHIA-17’ than in ‘Grand Nain’ at both locations, indicating more availability of photosynthetic area in ‘FHIA-17’ during the fruit-filling period. The harvest cycle of ‘FHIA-17’ was significantly longer than for ‘Grand Nain’. It took 315 and 204 more days in Corozal and Isabela, respectively, to harvest three cycles (mother crop and two ratoon crops) of ‘FHIA-17’ than for ‘Grand Nain’. No significant differences were found for starch and soluble sugars in green unripe or fully mature fruit among cultivars. In this long-term study, ‘FHIA-17’ showed to have good production and resistance against BLSD and is a viable alternative to current commercial cultivars. Its relative advantage of reduced production costs by not needing fungicide applications should be weighed against its longer harvest cycle to produce a fruit bunch.

Fungitoxic Potentialities of NECO 50 EC in an Integrated Black Sigatoka Management Strategy in Industrial Dessert Banana Plantation

Black leaf streak disease (BLSD) is the major constraint on banana production around the world. In Côte d'Ivoire, this disease is found in all banana-growing areas and its management involves the use of large volumes of agrochemicals. This mode of production is increasingly denounced by consumers from regarding fruit contamination by phytopharmaceuticals. The objective of this study is to promote the use of NECO 50 EC, a plant extract-based biofungicide in an integrated black Sigatoka management system. The fungitoxic effect of NECO 50 EC was assessed in vitro on Mycosphaerella fijiensis conidia germination and the evolution of black leaf streak disease symptoms under natural infestation. NECO 50 EC was applied over a surface area of 25 ha at a rate of 0.3 l/ha. Its weekly effect on the evolution of the rank of the youngest leaf affected (YLA), the rank of the youngest necrotic leaf (YLN), the number of functional leaves at flowering (NFLF) and the number of functional leaves at harvest (NFLH) was determined and then compared to those of a morpholine (Volley 88 OL) applied over a surface area of 25 ha at a dose of 0.5 l/ha. NECO 50 EC showed an anti-germinating effect on Mycosphaerella fijiensis conidia at low doses, useful in reducing disease spreading. Its application in banana tree plantations reduced disease pressure on the plots. It ensured the protection of new leaves generated (YLA > 4), favored ranks of YLN greater than 9. More than 14 leaves were counted at flowering and more than 7 leaves at harvest were observed. NECO 50 EC, a plant extract-based biological fungicide, may be an effective alternative for black leaf streak disease control in industrial banana tree plantations.

Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum. Potential Antifungal Agent Against Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet, Fungi Responsible of Black Leaf Streak Disease (BLSD) of Plantain (Musa spp)

Alternatives to synthetic chemicals are undertaken against phytopathogens. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of seed extracts of Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum. on Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet, fungus responsible for banana black leaf streak disease. Five extracts of T. peruviana, hexane extract (HE), ethyl acetate extract (EAE), acetone extract (AcE), methanol extract (ME) and aqueous extract (AqE), and a fungicide, Azoxystrobin were used. GC-MS of acetone extract was performed. Fifty (50) strains of M. fijiensis per sampling site were tested. Three concentrations of extracts 6.25 (C1), 12.5 (C2), and 25 (C3) μl/ml, a negative control (0 μl/ml) and 10 ppm of azoxystrobin were used for the tests. The MIC50 and MIC90 were determined. GC-MS showed chemical compounds with different molecular height such as acids, sugars, and esters. AcE and AqE significantly reduced M. fijiensis germ tube growth at C2 and C3 concentrations and with inhibition percentage respectively ranged of 60-90% and 40-80%. The growth levels of the germ tubes were above the strobilurin resistance threshold at Njombe and peasant plantation, ranging from 77.9% to 92.3%. AcE showed the same or superior efficacy as the fungicide used on conidial germination at all tested concentrations. The MIC50 totally reducing mycelial growth and conidial germination was 6.25 μl/ml. T. peruviana seeds extracts can be exploited in integrated pests management against M. fijiensis.

Cox Processes Associated with Spatial Copula Observed through Stratified Sampling

Cox processes, also called doubly stochastic Poisson processes, are used for describing phenomena for which overdispersion exists, as well as Poisson properties conditional on environmental effects. In this paper, we consider situations where spatial count data are not available for the whole study area but only for sampling units within identified strata. Moreover, we introduce a model of spatial dependency for environmental effects based on a Gaussian copula and gamma-distributed margins. The strength of dependency between spatial effects is related with the distance between stratum centers. Sampling properties are presented taking into account the spatial random field of covariates. Likelihood and Bayesian inference approaches are proposed to estimate the effect parameters and the covariate link function parameters. These techniques are illustrated using Black Leaf Streak Disease (BLSD) data collected in Martinique island.

Yield and Fruit Quality Traits of Two Plantain Cultivars Grown at Two Locations in Puerto Rico under Black Leaf Streak Disease Pressure

Plantain (Musa balbisiana AAB) is a tropical rhizomatous perennial plant in the genus Musa spp., closely related to banana (Musa acuminata AAA). It is an important cash crop and staple for inhabitants in many parts of the world, including various ethnic groups in the United States. Black leaf streak disease (BLSD) or black sigatoka, caused by Pseudocercospora fijiensis (formerly Mycosphaerella fijiensis), is responsible for significant losses of this crop due to the high susceptibility of the most economically important cultivars. BLSD does not immediately kill plantain plants, but it causes severe leaf necrosis, which results in reduced photosynthetic area, thereby adversely impacting bunch weight and fruit production. Without cultural and chemical control, yields can be reduced by 20% to 80%, depending on severity. This study evaluated a BLSD-resistant cultivar, FHIA-21, against Maricongo, a standard commercial cultivar with no BLSD tolerance, at two locations in Puerto Rico on Ultisol (Corozal site) and Oxisol (Isabela site) soils. Total number of fruit and bunch yield were significantly higher at Isabela, with BLSD severity being significantly lower at this location. Average fruit production of ‘FHIA-21’ was significantly higher than that of ‘Maricongo’ at both locations, with fruit yields of 122,522 and 99,948 fruit/ha at Isabela and Corozal, respectively. Overall, fruit of ‘FHIA-21’ were significantly longer and had greater diameters than those of ‘Maricongo’. At Isabela, the mean bunch fruit weight was significantly higher for ‘FHIA-21’, but both cultivars exceeded the minimum local marketable fruit weight criterion of 270 g. At both locations, the numbers of functional leaves present at flowering and at harvest were significantly higher for ‘FHIA-21’ than for ‘Maricongo’, indicating more availability of photosynthetic area for ‘FHIA-21’ during the fruit-filling period. There were no significant differences between cultivars regarding the concentration of starch and soluble sugars for green fruit. Regarding ripe fruit, ‘FHIA-21’ had a significantly higher concentration of soluble sugars and less starch. In this study, ‘FHIA-21’ had good resistance against BLSD and, if accepted by consumers, is a viable alternative to current commercial cultivars. We also conclude from this study that the expression of the Banana streak virus (BSV) in planting material of this cultivar remains an unknown threat in yield decline of ‘FHIA-21’.

Ecological Regulation of Black Leaf Streak Disease Driven by Plant Richness in Banana Agroecosystems

Black leaf streak disease (BLSD), caused by the fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis, is an important threat to banana production. Although its control relies on costly and unsustainable use of fungicides, ecological regulation of BLSD linked to field-scale plant diversity has received little attention. We monitored banana phytometers in plots in banana-based fields where no fungicides were applied. Within each plot, we measured plant richness in three strata, canopy openness, necrotic leaf removal, Musa abundance and richness. We quantified ecological regulation of five BLSD parameters (inoculum sources, spore abundance, lesion density, incubation time, and the area under the disease progression curve) and identified, using structural equation modeling, the characteristics of the plant community and the mechanisms likely responsible for the regulation. Regulation occurred, but most effectively before lesion formation, and was mainly related to plant richness between 1.5 and 5m high. A barrier effect, rather than a dilution effect, more likely limited spore abundance. Our results support the hypothesis that the potential effects of plant richness on leaf-scale microclimate variability and on the diversity of epiphyllic microorganisms are involved in the regulation of incubation time and lesion density. Field-scale management of plant diversity may be a promising lever to foster ecological regulation of BLSD.