ISHS Acta Horticulturae 531: II ISHS Conference on Fruit Production in the Tropics and Subtropics
A NEW STRATEGY FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF THE BANANA WEEVIL (COSMOPOLITES SORDIDUS GERMAR) IN EAST AFRICA |
| Authors: | M. Griesbach, R.-P. Schuster, R.A. Sikora, C.S. Gold, P.R. Speijer |
| Keywords: | fungi |
| Abstract:
The banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) is generally considered the most important insect pest of banana (Musa spp.) in many regions of the world. On east African production systems, the pest has been identified as a major factor of yield decline in traditional banana growing areas. Since conventional control measures has so far shown only limited success, a new strategy for the biological control of the banana weevil was developed in Uganda. The method involves the use of mutualistic fungal endophytes, which occur naturally in healthy banana plants without causing disease symptoms. From a total of 200 fungal isolates, 12 caused mortality rates of 80–100% on weevil eggs and up to 40% on weevil larvae. Tissue cultured banana plants were inoculated with these promising isolates and the fungi able to colonise the plant tissue. The inoculated plants were infested with banana weevils and a damage reduction of ca. 50% was observed on two cultivars. Ther use of mutualistic fungi for the enhancement of banana plants is seen as a promising new strategy for the biological control of banana pests. | |
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