Banana and plantain production systems in Benin: ethnobotanical investigation, varietal diversity, pests, and implications for better production

Abstract

BackgroundThe cultivated banana and plantain (Musa spp.) are valuable for nutritional and socio-economic security for millions of people worldwide. In Benin, banana and plantain are among the most produced, consumed, and traded commodities. Its production is mainly for local consumption and remains insufficient to the demand. However, the varietal diversity of banana and plantain cultivated in Benin is not documented. This study aims at characterizing the banana and plantain cropping systems, genetic diversity, and production constraints as a baseline to the full utilization of this resource in crop improvement and to identify the potential production and agronomic qualities.MethodsA baseline investigation of ethnobotanical attributes of banana cultivars was done in 51 randomly chosen villages in southern Benin. Interviews with randomly selected representative farmers were carried out. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used for global confirmatory investigation of survey data. Socio-demographic data and indigenous knowledge on the farmer uses of banana and plantain diversity, such as cultural practices, origin, and availability of banana and plantain planting materials, and the constraints and criteria of varietal preference cited by farmers were ranked.ResultsEighty-seven locally recognized cultivars were found: 73 of banana and 14 of plantain groups. The most popular cultivars were Sotoumon (banana) (52.94%), Aloga (plantain) (41.17%), Planta (banana) (33.33%), and Adjangan (plantain) (27.45%). Of the eleven production constraints identified, the main biotic challenges were banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus Germar and banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), while abiotic problems were drought and the wind. Some local varieties like Amandan, Assonwonnou, Coleti, and Ninkouin are extremely rare owing to agronomic and economic preference perceptions.Conclusion and implicationsThis study provides a baseline for banana diversity in Benin and the West African region and entry points for biological characterization and production improvement. This would enable the exploitation of this resource for plant breeding towards biotic and abiotic challenges facing banana production.

The effectiveness of consistent roguing in managing banana bunchy top disease in smallholder production in Africa

“…Greater collaboration at a landscape scale lowers the overall incoming risk, compensates differences in technical capacity, and improves adherence to a monitoring programme. In Africa, banana is produced in diverse cropping systems, scales, and farm sites (Chabi et al ., 2018), making information access, priorities, and collaboration across social groups for uniform disease management difficult (Mudege, 2017). Various options to improve compliance have been attempted in BBTD risk areas, including social pressure, group membership, or formal by‐laws (Lepoint, 2016; Abiola et al ., 2019).…”

RNAi technology for management of banana bunchy top disease

“…A wide array of products (such as flour, juice, chips, wine) and parts of bananas and plantains (e.g., fruit, flower, pseudostem, fruit peel, corm, and leaf) are used as food, feed, and for medicinal purposes (Adeniji, Tenkouano, Ezurike, Ariyo, & Vroh‐Bi, 2010; Okareh, Adeolu, & Adepoju, 2015). Despite their market value and importance in ensuring global food security, insect pests such as banana weevil and nematodes, diseases like Fusarium wilt, black Sigatoka, banana Xanthomonas wilt, moko disease, banana bunchy top disease (BBTD), and banana streak disease, and other abiotic factors have been implicated in their declining yields (Chabi et al., 2018; Tripathi, Ntui, & Tripathi, 2019). All these aforementioned factors have remained a constant hindrance in achieving the full potential of bananas and plantains in supporting global food security.…”

Evaluation of the sensitivity and synergistic effect of Trichoderma reesei and mancozeb to inhibit under in vitro conditions the growth of Fusarium oxysporum

“…Mancozeb is a dithiocarbamate, non-systemic agricultural fungicide with high spectrum of biological activities against a wide range of pathogenic fungi including ascomycetes, oomycetes and basidiomycetes [ 9 , 10 ]. Although the application of synthetic fungicides to control the growth of phytopathogens has been satisfactory in most cases, evidence suggests that synthetic compounds including benomyl, chlorothalonil, captan, mancozeb, maneb and propiconazole can cause adverse health effects on humans and the environment [ 11 , 12 ]. Thus, more environmentally friendly alternatives to control the growth of phytopathogens are currently being proposed.…”