This study aims at identifying the major tomato pests and diseases in the locality of Daloa. To achieve this goal, surveys were conducted among tomato farmers in the city, the outskirts and the villages of Daloa. They consisted in questioning farmers about their identity, the cropping practices and the problems encountered in the practice of tomato cultivation. Then another step consisted in monitoring tomato farms for observing diseases and pests associated to tomato. The results of the study showed that tomato cultivation is concentrated in rural areas and is carried out by men with a very low level of education. The most cultivated varieties are petromech and cobra because of their resistance to certain pests. Several tomato diseases have been identified, however the most significant were seedling damping-off (Pythium sp, Fusarium sp, Rhizoctonia solani), plant wilting (Fusarium oxyporum and Ralstonia solanacerum), fruit anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp.), apical necrosis and root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne sp.). The main pests observed on tomato in the locality were Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera), Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera), Dysdercus sp. (Hemiptera). This study provides a pathway from which further studies including mapping the different diseases could be conducted so as to better monitor and protect tomato cultivation.

The difficulties of nurserymen and producers of plantains in Côte d’Ivoire are the high mortality rate of seedlings and the delays of growth in the field. The aim of this study is to improve quality and agronomic performance of plantain seedlings produced by PIF technique (plantain seedlings production based on macropropagation). The plantain shoot bulbs were inoculated before being placed in the germinator and seedlings from germinator were inoculated again during the weaning phase at nursery with AMFs (Rhizophagus intraradices). Root mycorrhizal colonization, growth parameters such as girth, height, total leaf area, biomass and entry into production were measured in nursery and on the field. The results showed that the root colonization rate of the plants inoculated with R. intraradices inoculum was higher (30.59%) than that of the native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (2.78%). All inoculated plants survived while non-inoculated plants had 27.69% of mortality rate. Inoculated plants had higher growth than non-inoculated plants. The organs of inoculated plants also had higher biomass than non-inoculated plants. Eleven months after planting, nearly 50% of the inoculated plants had started production, while only 5.67% of the non-inoculated plants had started production. Mycorrhization improved the vigor and vegetative growth of plantain seedlings. It could therefore be used as a solution for a sustainable plantain culture.