-more samples for US
The Ministry of Agriculture’s Musa Disease Management Unit (MDMU) had sent sigatoka disease samples to CABI Bio-Science Labora-tory in the United States for further analysis and to determine the origin of the disease affecting banana and plantain farms, and the lab has since explained that the analysis has been inconclusive and further samples will be needed.
Head of MUSA Rajendra Persaud said that samples were collected from the various affected regions and were prepared and sent to CABI for a confirmative diagnosis of the sigatoka disease, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
CABI in its first interim report stated that the leaf symptoms strongly resemble those caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis , a causative agent of the Black sigatoka disease. However, several techniques were used to isolate the fungus into pure culture to be able to identify the disease, but this has since been inconclusive and work on the samples received is ongoing.
However, MUSA is continuing its spraying exercise in Region Three, especially at Zeelugt West and Tuschen Backlands.
According to GINA, a disease assessment has since been conducted by the MUSA Unit which has been established with the ministry’s research arm, the National Agricultural Re-search Institute (NARI), and an aggressive sensitisation programme was undertaken in banana and plantain growing regions.
As a result, field officers have been sensitising farmers on disease management strategies and a survey of all MUSA growers in Regions One, Two, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Nine and Ten is almost completed.
According to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, to date approximately 1370 farmers and 94 small plots inclusive of 4861.095 acres were covered during the survey.
Meanwhile, efforts are being intensified to educate farmers about the disease and strategies which include printing and distribution of brochures, disease identification, disease assessment within the country, training of staff and farmers, establishment of demonstration plots and spray programmes.
There are currently two types of sigatoka disease (yellow and black).
Demonstration plots have been established in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten as research conducted by officials of NARI’s disease control unit has shown that crops in those regions are not prone to the disease while Regions Eight and Nine are more susceptible.
“The results so far are looking very positive and the chemicals are effective in managing the Musa disease especially the Black and Yellow sigatoka,” the minister added.
He said that a sanitation exercise is required which entails a comprehensive clearing and cleaning of farmlands by cutting all affected leaves and disposing of them in a proper manner since re-infection is likely.
And to ensure that farmers are better equipped with the necessary knowledge to effect proper agricultural practices and improve productivity, training sessions were conducted in several regions by staff of the MDMU.
In addition, farmers and staff were also trained during a session hosted by Head of Musa and FAO consultant Assim Dilbar, and similar exercises will be undertaken in other regions shortly.
Sigatoka is a leaf disease that is caused by a fungus (Mycosphaerella musicola). The symptoms of the disease appear on the leaves and not on other parts of the plant. The disease is found in almost all banana growing countries in the Caribbean.
Some of the symptoms of the disease are pale yellow specks on the upper leaf surface, spots appearing on the 4th and 5th leaf of untreated plants and streaks appearing along the margins and apex of the leaf.
These symptoms if untreated, cause damage to leaves making them non-functional resulting in smaller and lighter fruits, and an increase in the level of rejected fruit and an eventual death of plants.
