Sustainable Banana Research Articles

Sustainable banana (Musa spp) production through integrated plant nutrition system - A review

Nutrient depletion is a reversible constraint and therefore high agricultural production can be realized with appropriate soil nutrient management. Careful manipulation of nutrient stocks and flows, in order to achieve satisfactory and sustainable level of agricultural production is the Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS). IPNS is holistic and sustainable approach to attain the maximum profitability and cost benefit ratio for the farmers. It is nutrient saving, controls erosion and recycles crop residues, manures and other biomass or nutrient adding. Different IPNS packages have been reported to improve growth and yield of banana (Musa spp). Through combined application of chemical fertilizers, organic manures, bio-fertilizers and bio-control agents in IPNS have profound effect in improving quality parameters like total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, total reducing and non-reducing sugars of banana. It also improves the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, especially the number of beneficial soil microflora. Considering the ill effects of chemical fertilizers, it is high time to use IPNS in banana cultivation instead of using chemical fertilizers alone. The paper reviews all the literature on various aspects of banana cultivation from the IPNS perspective for better understanding and future strategies for improved production as well as quality of banana.

Carbon footprint of premium quality export bananas: Case study in Ecuador, the world's largest exporter

Nowadays, the new international market demands challenge the food producing countries to include the measurement of the environmental impact generated along the production process for their products. In order to comply with the environmentally responsible market requests the measurement of the greenhouse gas emissions of Ecuadorian agricultural goods has been promoted employing the carbon footprint concept. Ecuador is the largest exporter of bananas in the world. Within this context, this study is a first assessment of the carbon footprint of the Ecuadorian premium export banana (Musa AAA) using a considerable amount of field data. The system boundaries considered from agricultural production to delivery in a European destination port. The data collected over three years permitted identifying the hot spot stages. For the calculation, the CCaLC V3.0 software developed by the University of Manchester is used. The carbon footprint of the Ecuadorian export banana ranged from 0.45 to 1.04kgCO2-equivalent/kg banana depending on the international overseas transport employed. The principal contributors to the carbon footprint are the on farm production and overseas transport stages. Mitigation and reduction strategies were suggested for the main emission sources in order to achieve sustainable banana production.

A Novel Approach Towards Sustainable Banana Farming Intercropped with Rubber by A Smallholder – A Profitable Source of Income Diversification

In the year 2009-2010, the Department of Agriculture, Malaysia introduced Abandoned Land Development Project (ACDA). Under this project, abandoned lands are replanted with crops of economic value. The cultivator of this case study was one of the participants of ACDA project. With the subsidies provided by the Government of Malaysia, the cultivator established a banana farm. Conventionally, the cultivator’s main source of income should be generated from selling the banana fruit. However, we found this cultivator cum entrepreneur diversified his land productivity. The monthly income generated from selling banana fruits, suckers and rubber seedlings were 30.2 %, 39.9% and 29.9% of his total farm income, respectively. The cultivator provide a novel insight in managing banana farm by introducing new techniques of planting, fertilization regime and diversification of income in his banana farm intercropped with rubber seedlings.

Isolation and identification of endophytic bacteria of bananas (Musa spp.) in Kenya and their potential as biofertilizers for sustainable banana production

This study was conducted with the aim of isolating and identifying endophytic bacteria associated with bananas in Kenya and assessing their functional potentiality as biological fertilizers. Banana material was collected from two different banana cultivars in five different geographical regions and bacteria were isolated using five different isolation media. Whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis was used for microorganism profiling. Protein from the living cells were extracted using the ethanol/formic acid extraction procedure and intact molecular weights of the ionized proteins directly measured and the pattern of the protein molecular weights used as fingerprints. Forty three isolates were selected for partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Isolates were characterized on the basis of their in-vitro plant growth-promoting activities that included abilities to fix free nitrogen, solubilize phosphates and produce siderophores. The isolates were identified as Serratia, Pseudomonas, Rahnella, Enterobacter, Raoultella, Yokenella, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Yersinia and Ewingella species. Siderophore production activity was detected with all the Pseudomonas isolates as determined on blue Chrome Azurol S (CAS) agar plates. Twenty seven isolates were observed to solubilize phosphates, with Rahnella isolates showing the highest potential as determined on NBRIP growth medium. All the isolates grew on solid nitrogen-source free medium, suggesting their ability to fix nitrogen. In conclusion, endophytic bacteria of bananas in Kenya were isolated and identified, and Rahnella and Pseudomonas isolates proposed as potential microbial biofertilizers for sustainable banana production in Kenya.

Pathogenicity of some isolates of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin on 2nd and 4th larval instars of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Col.: Chrysomelidae), under laboratory conditions

This study was conducted with the aim of isolating and identifying endophytic bacteria associated with bananas in Kenya and assessing their functional potentiality as biological fertilizers. Banana material was collected from two different banana cultivars in five different geographical regions and bacteria were isolated using five different isolation media. Whole-cell matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis was used for microorganism profiling. Protein from the living cells were extracted using the ethanol/formic acid extraction procedure and intact molecular weights of the ionized proteins directly measured and the pattern of the protein molecular weights used as fingerprints. Forty three isolates were selected for partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Isolates were characterized on the basis of their in-vitro plant growth-promoting activities that included abilities to fix free nitrogen, solubilize phosphates and produce siderophores. The isolates were identified as Serratia, Pseudomonas, Rahnella, Enterobacter, Raoultella, Yokenella, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Yersinia and Ewingella species. Siderophore production activity was detected with all the Pseudomonas isolates as determined on blue Chrome Azurol S (CAS) agar plates. Twenty seven isolates were observed to solubilize phosphates, with Rahnella isolates showing the highest potential as determined on NBRIP growth medium. All the isolates grew on solid nitrogen-source free medium, suggesting their ability to fix nitrogen. In conclusion, endophytic bacteria of bananas in Kenya were isolated and identified, and Rahnella and Pseudomonas isolates proposed as potential microbial biofertilizers for sustainable banana production in Kenya.

Assessment of nematicidal properties and phytochemical screening of neem seed formulations using Radopholus similis, parasitic nematode of plantain in Cameroon

Phytoparasitic nematodes of banana and plantain make one of the major constraints to sustainable banana and plantain production. The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, common in Cameroon is of particular importance where most smallholder farmers are unaware of this “hidden enemy”. In intensive plantain plantations, nematicides are often used as a primary means of control. Despite their efficacy, chemical pesticides are harmful to the environment and human health. The objective of this study was to assess the nematicidal properties of four neem seed formulations (raw neem seed powder (NSP); organic, watery and essential oil extracts) and to determine the phytochemical properties of these extracts. Alkaloids, saponins, triterpens and steroids were found in all three extracts, tannins in the organic and essential oils extracts and phenols only in the essential oils extract. Using five different concentrations of each of the three extracts as well as NSP, the nematicidal properties of all four formulations was confirmed. The NSP killed 100% of all nematodes at the lowest concentration tested, 10 μg ml −1, after 48 h. The in vivo test using two plantain varieties, Essong and Big Ebanga showed that all neem seed formulations increased plant growth and reduced nematode populations significantly when compared with the control. Since NSP seems to perform as well or even better than the extracts, it could provide farmers with a simple, low cost alternative for the control of banana and plantain nematodes.

THE POTENTIAL OF TISSUE CULTURE BANANA (MUSA SPP.) TECHNOLOGY IN AFRICA AND THE ANTICIPATED LIMITATIONS AND CONSTRAINTS

The use of tissue culture (TC) technology to propagate banana plants gives growers several advantages over the conventional propagation. This technology is an indispensable tool for the facilitation of quick, and en masse, multiplication of adequate planting material of indigenous and exotic banana (Musa spp.) clones and production of disease-free planting material. The technology also rejuvenates the plants resulting in more vigorous growth, higher yields, better quality fruits, earlier fruiting and more uniform crop than those produced by conventional means. Additionally, banana seed corms are bulky and expensive to transport and subject to delay for extended periods for phyto-sanitary inspection. TC plants are relatively inexpensive to ship and easier to be certified by plant inspectors since they are packaged in sterile containers. In spite of these advantages, TC technology remains little known or underexploited in Africa due to a number of constraints. Africa has limited TC facilities and personnel to operate TC laboratories and virus indexing services (TC process does not eliminate viruses), especially in commercial production. A durable system is needed to help the continent to engage in cross-border business of TC banana planting material to enable improved and more sustainable banana production. Using best practices and TC laboratories, workable and practical models for the distribution of TC material within and between African countries face significant challenges. In addition, major constraints persist that prevent farmers from adopting TC banana technology. These include lack of credit for farmers to purchase the planting material and the high inputs required to realize optimum yields, while knowledge on the agronomic practices required for dealing with TC plants remains to be disseminated and documented. Reliability of banana markets is catalytic in promoting production and consumption, which in turn would impact on better sales of TC planting material. Most banana markets in Africa remain rudimentary, resulting in high postharvest losses, reducing farmers' incomes and discouraging them from adopting the technology. The future for the TC adoption in Africa is bleak, unless the constraints highlighted in this paper are addressed.

PROTECTING THE AFRICAN BANANA (MUSA SPP.): PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

In Africa, bananas (Musa spp.) are staple food crops and sources of income that are cultivated as backyard plantings, mixed-crop plantings and in commercial plantations. Continued production of bananas and plantains, however, is threatened by several important pests and diseases. Nematodes, particularly, are responsible for significant losses across Africa, and the banana weevil (Cosmopolites sordidus) damages both cooking (AAA-EA genome) and dessert bananas (AAA genome). Since its introduction onto the continent, black leaf streak has spread to all African tropical banana production areas, causing immense damage to plantations. Fusarium wilt is important in dessert banana plantings, while Xanthomonas wilt has devastated bananas in Central and Eastern Africa since 2001. Both Banana bunchy top virus and Banana streak viruses occur on the continent. Because of the limited resources available to backyard and mixed-crop growers, many pests and diseases are only partially controlled or not controlled at all, making banana production in Africa highly vulnerable. More importantly, many pests and diseases are indiscreetly disseminated because of limited resources and knowledge. For these reasons, large growing areas have been forced out of further production. Without substantial financial resources, the effect of pests and diseases in Africa can be significantly reduced by promoting the use of clean and healthy planting material, sanitation practices, and quarantine regulations to prevent dissemination of existing pathogens and pests, and the introduction of important foreign pathogens such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense 'tropical race 4', and those causing Moko bacterial wilt and Blood bacterial wilt. Two banana breeding programs and several facilities for plant biotechnology already exist in Africa and should be used to develop banana cultivars resistant to pathogens and pests. More importantly, national and regional resources should be pooled in order to ensure sustainable banana production in Africa.

Emergy evaluation and economic performance of banana cropping systems in Guadeloupe (French West Indies)

Banana is the second most important agricultural commodity in Guadeloupe (French West Indies—FWI) and, to compensate the decline in international prices during the last 15 years, banana growers have intensified their production systems by increasing the use of technological inputs. Such intensification strategies, that require both material and investment increases, may impose economic as well as environmental risks, given the fragile island ecosystems. In order to assess the environmental performance of banana production in Guadeloupe, emergy synthesis methods were applied to six different types of banana cropping systems previously identified in the island. Additionally, aiming at improving managerial capacity and investment decision making, environmental performance results were contrasted with economic analysis for the six cropping systems. As a general outcome, these analyses showed that the better the environmental performance of the cropping system, the worse its economic performance. This result was corroborated by an increased contrast among cropping systems as related to their dependence on purchased inputs, although all cropping systems followed the same intensive and arguably wasteful agricultural model. Therefore, the analyses point out that sustainable banana production in Guadeloupe depends on a shift from the high fossil input model to a natural resources intensive one. In this sense, emergy flow analysis shows that innovation towards environmentally sound practices that would enhance nutrient cycling; integrate weeds, pests and diseases control; and improve the banana packing process might result in most positive impacts on overall sustainability. Economic analysis showed that the high labour costs contribute largely to the dependency of banana production on agricultural subsidies. However, reorienting the current European agricultural income policy to an environmental performance-based subvention might be a policy opportunity to achieve the present social goals while promoting sustainability in banana production. Furthermore, the EC regulation on quality standards for commercial bananas, by imposing strict aesthetic benchmarks, has a negative effect on the sustainability of banana production because substantial non-renewable and purchased emergy inflows into banana production systems aim to improve aesthetic standards over sound ecological management.

New sources of resistance toRadopholus similisinMusagermplasm from Asia

The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is a serious threat to sustainable banana production worldwide. A promising method for nematode control is the development and deployment of nematode-resistant banana cultivars. This requires the identification of sources of resistance, which can then be included in breeding programs to improve the local banana cultivars. In this regard, 23 accessions, including wild bananas and landraces, were evaluated for resistance to R. similis using the individual root inoculation method. The accessions Marau, Pora Pora, Kokopo, Pisang Mas, Saba, Gia Hiu, M. acuminata ssp. burmannica, M. acuminata ssp. malaccensis and Vudu papua were resistant to R. similis. Four other accessions, Pitu, Yalim, M. balbisiana and Yanun yefan, showed partial resistance to R. similis.

Response of East African highland bananas and hybrids to Radopholus similis

AbstractThe burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is a serious threat to sustainable banana production worldwide. A promising way of controlling nematodes is through the development and deployment of resistant cultivars. This usually involves crossing triploid cultivars with fertile diploids to produce tetraploids that generally display greater male and female fertility. Selected tetraploids are then crossed with improved diploids to produce sterile secondary triploids. This study evaluates the host response of the most commonly grown East African highland bananas in Uganda. Also, the host responses of diploid hybrids and East African highland banana derived hybrids, including tetraploids and secondary triploids, were evaluated. The individual root inoculation method was used for screening the Musa accessions for resistance to R. similis. The final nematode population of each accession was compared with the final nematode population of a susceptible reference cultivar, Valery, and with the final nematode population of a resistant reference cultivar, Yangambi km5. Results show that, except for cv. Muvubo, East African highland bananas were as susceptible to R. similis as cv. Valery. Four out of 13 tetraploid hybrids were identified with resistance to R. similis, as well as 13 out of 19 diploids and five out of 18 secondary triploids.

Biotechnology for sustainable banana and plantain production in Africa: the South African contribution

Sustainable production of banana, plantain and enset in Africa is crucial to secure food and provide income to millions of people. These crops, however, are severely threatened by diseases, pests and environmental constraints. Most bananas in Africa are produced by small-scale farmers who often do not have the financial resources for sustained production by means of the application of chemical fertilisers, fungicides and pesticides. Biotechnology can provide a means whereby plants can be improved for sustainable cultivation. Applications of biotechnology include tissue culture technology, development of molecular markers, and genetic transformation. Biotechnology, however, should not be used in isolation to solve the problems in banana and plantain production in Africa, but should be incorporated into integrated disease and pest management programmes. South Africa has the infrastructure and capacity to play an important role in the training of scientists, research on production constraints, and implementation of biotechnological advances for the rest of Africa.