Efficacy of cultural control measures against the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), in South Africa

Abstract

The banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, is the most important insect pest of banana and plantain in the world. Cultural control methods were investigated over 2 years in southern KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. Harvesting at ground level and dissection of remnants (treatment 1), and covering the base of the mat (entire plant consisting of several meristems) with soil and moving debris to the inter‐row (treatment 2), were compared to a positive control that involved treatment of plants with a registered pesticide (treatment 3), and a negative control that involved harvesting at 150 cm from the collar with no soil or sanitation amendments (treatment 4). Yield, weevil damage and pseudostem girth of plants were measured from August to November annually, while adult beetle densities were assessed over 4 weeks in October/November and April. Nematode samples were taken and analysed in October/November every year. Damage parameters included the coefficient of infestation, the percentage coefficient of infestation (PCI) at two intervals, the summed PCI value, the percentage cross‐sectional damage of the central cylinder and cortex, and the mean cross‐sectional damage percentage. A randomized block design with three replicates was used in the trial. The parameters were similar before the onset of the trial. Fruit yield and plant girth, corrected by nematode densities, were not significantly different in any treatment, nor were the nematodes controlled. Soil cover and recession of remnants was the only effective treatment, significantly reducing the CI, but not the adult density or the other damage parameters. Soil cover showed promise as a cultural control method because it only needs to be applied seasonally and reduced the percentage cross‐sectional damage of the central cylinder, the damage parameter most closely related to yield, by 14%.

Impact of Cultural Practice on the Control of <i>Cosmopolites sordidus</i> in Banana and Plantain Communities in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

“…Indeed, the analysis of the result showed low level of economic importance of the pest in the area. The inference from the analysis here is supported by literature (De Graaf and Govender, 2008). That sampled C. sordidus population and infestation levels were relatively low compared with high populations recorded by the author and other researchers in other parts of the world can reasonably be attributed to cultural practice effect.…”

Assessment of insect invaders of decaying banana and plantain (<i>musa spp.</i>) Pseudo stems in Umuagwo, Ohaji – Egbema local government area, Imo state, Nigeria

“…Also, the importance of decaying pseudo stems of banana and plantain as sure source of moisture for certain developmental stages of insects has been documented (Graham, 1957 andDe Graaf andGovender,2008). Therefore, it can be inferred that the decaying banana/plantain pseudo stem provided food and moisture for the invading insects.…”

Production Analysis of Banana Supply Chain Management in Thailand

“…They destroy the banana rhizome and pseudostem base. High weevil densities in local commercial banana fields might lead to infestation in new banana plants by adult weevils that lived in the residue from previously harvested banana trees (Graaf et al, 2008). Table 3 shows the problems of banana yields and quality.…”