Evaluating health of macropropagated banana seedlings
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Date
2010
Authors
Kahuthia-Gathu, R.
Njau, Njeri
Mwangi, Maina
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Abstract
Objective of study: Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most
important food and cash crops in parts of Kenya. The crop
provides food security, nutrition and income for many
smallholder farmers. Bananas can be eaten fresh, cooked or
processed into numerous value added products, depending on
the variety. Despite the importance of the crop, it faces major
production challenges including scarcity of high quality
seedlings, insect pests and diseases. Naturally produced
suckers are more likely to carry pests and diseases leading to
reduced productivity and shortened lifetime of new plantations.
Demand for disease free high quality planting materials has
been on the increase. To address this demand
macropropagation has been introduced as an alternative
seedling production technology. The technology requires little
capital and skill to implement, and can therefore be promoted
to small scale seedling entrepreneurs and farmers.
However, some aspects of the technology require further
research to ensure quality of seedlings. This study is being
carried out to establish the effectiveness of macropropagation
technology to produce disease free banana seedlings.
Methodology: The study will commence with a survey to
identify the key diseases and insect pests of bananas in
Eastern and Central Kenya. Macropropagation nurseries for
research will be established at Kenyatta University. Pests and
pathogens will be isolated from banana corms and their
importance in health of seedlings determined through
pathogenicity tests. Expected outputs: The information
obtained through the study will contribute to improvement of
the macropropagation protocol to ensure the propagated
seedlings are free from pests and pathogens
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Proceedings of the 3rd International e-Conference on Agricultural BioSciences 2010 Page: 64 – 65; Abstract ID: IeCAB010-329