Abstract
This study was carried out as a prelude to elucidate a management plan that could limit residues in fruits and the environment without compromising quality. In order to meet our objectives, snails were randomly sampled from banana growth stages, different plant parts, residues, polythene bag-covered and uncovered banana bunches, and at different distances from the field edges. To assess seasonality of snail infestations, snails were sampled from the pre-flowering growth stage (January to September, 2012). The egg-laying and aestivating behaviours of snails were assessed by counting them from residues, weeds and soil. We recorded a higher number of snails on growth stages and plant parts in the rainy season compared to the dry season. The number of snails were significantly higher in the pre-flowering growth stages in the wet season (72.1 snails/plant) compared to those from the same stage in the dry season (0.88 snails/plant) (p=0.05). Although the highest number of snails were recorded on leaves in both seasons compared to other plants parts, the numbers were significantly higher on leaves during the rainy season compared to those in the dry season (p=0.05). Residues were the most preferred egg-laying and aestivating sites for snails while leaves on the ground haboured the highest number of snails in both seasons. We therefore concluded that focus on monitoring and management of the snails should be intensified during the rainy season with special attention on pre-flowered plants, uncovered bunches, and residues.
Highlights
Banana is one of the world’s most important crops grown by small and large scale producer’s alike [1]
The highest number of snails were recorded on leaves in both seasons compared to other plants parts, the numbers were significantly higher on leaves during the rainy season compared to those in the dry season (p=0.05)
Distribution in relation to banana growth stages and different parts The data provided enough evidence to show that the highest numbers of snails were recorded in the rainy season (Figure 3 B) than in the dry season (Figure 3A)
Summary
Banana is one of the world’s most important crops grown by small and large scale producer’s alike [1]. Limicolaria spp (snail) belongs to the Family Achatinidae [15] This species has been reported to damage palm fruits and leguminous cover crops in Cameroon such that it was suggested to may have been a greater pest than A. fulicaor and A. marginata [16]. There is inadequate information on mollusca as crop pests, the status of these terrestrial gastropods, have increased greatly in the past decade [17,18,19,20,21] These pests cause damage to banana fruits by eating the peelings and this seriously affects the physical appearances of the fruits, making them not fit for exportation (Figure 1). These snails feed on leaves of very young plants (suckers) creating feeding holes on them
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