MANAGEMENT OF PANAMA DISEASE (Fusarium
oxysporum) USING ORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS; A
CASE STUDY IN KISII COUNTY.
PRESENTED TO : THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANT
SCIENCE AND CROP PROTECTION, UNIVERSITY OF
NAIROBI.
SUPERVISORS
: 1) Dr.Narla Rama D.
2) Prof. J. Kimenju
3) Dr Muthomi
STIDENT’S NAME : MOMANYI KENNEDY MOSETI
ADM NO.
: A56/80823/12
DATE
: 2ND JULY 2013
INTRODUCTION
Panama disease is widely known as one of the most destructive banana disease all
over the world where bananas (Musa spp) are grown. The first incident of the disease
was reported in 1876 in Australia (Randy C.Ploetz Dec. 2000). It is a soil borne fungus
that induces panama disease in host plant by preventing sap movement in the xylem
vessel (Beckman Aps 1990). The fungus also exists in plant debris. It gains entry into
the banana plant often through bruises on the roots. Therefore the disease starts by
attacking the roots of banana plants. Though the disease has been in existence since
19th century, it took until 20th century to wipe out plantations of the crop in Panama and
other parts of the world. The most popular banana variety in Panama: ‘Gross michel’
comprised all the export production then. Its susceptibility to Fusarium wilt, threatened
complete wipe out of banana production.
Other resistant strains are in use nowadays but the Fusarium fungus keeps evolving
therefore making the banana growing regions insecure in the future prospects of the
crop industry. Also banana plants are at a disadvantage because they have inability to
produce viable pollen hence unable to achieve reproduction by sexual means.
Therefore, the crop’s asexual reproduction perpetuates in subsequent generations of
the crop that are genetically identical and hence susceptible to the same disease.
This disease is present in major banana growing areas of Kenya e.g.
Kisii, Homabay, Meru, Murang’a, Kakamega, Busia, Kisumu, Migori,
Taita Taveta and Coast region. Affected varieties in Kenya are the
dessert bananas such as Bogobogo, Bogoya, Kisukari and Muraru
where up to 80% of the banana field may show symptoms of the
disease.
In Africa Fusarium types 1, 2, 3 and 4 exist affecting bananas but in
Kenya only types 1 and 2 have been confirmed to exist.
Fusarium wilt severity is increased by stress situations that generate
lack of vigor in the plant such as:
Long flooding periods
Unbalanced nutrition
Low temperatures
High salinity e.t.c.
(Stover BPAD 1972, Galan LFTS 1992). In addition, banana plants produced
by tissue culture suffer increased susceptibility to the disease when they are
planted in the field (Promusa P 1999).
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Kisii County is known countrywide for its potential in banana production for both
subsistent and commercial purposes.Most types of banana varieties are grown for
cooking as well as for fruit production as ‘dessert fruits’. The cooking varieties have
been established to be resistant to Fusarium oxyporum (Dr. Margaret Onyango:
Panama disease enemy to dessert banana production July 2005) whereas the dessert
varieties are susceptible.
The dessert varieties on the other hand fetch more income to the farmers as opposed
to the cooking varieties. Their shelf life is long; retaining the taste, colour and texture.
It has also been established that the panama disease is prevalent in warmer parts of
the county like Kisii south district, Marani district as opposed to cooler districts like
Nyaribari Chache, Nyaribari Masaba, Sameta district, Kenyenya district, Gucha district
e.t.c.
Banana is the second income earner to the farmers in the Kisii County after Tea and it
is also second as a staple food after maize. Therefore the presence of the disease
affects the economy of the county seriously.
The county is also conducive for animal production particularly livestock, poultry,
rabbits e.t.c. whose manure is available in reasonable quantity but are not properly
utilized for economic purposes. The availability of the manure provides the potential
that will underline this study in trying to manage the panama disease.
Also the warmer parts of the county provide suitable sites for setting up the
experiment.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION;
Banana and planting (Musa sp) is the fourth most important global food commodity after rice wheat and maize in terms of
gross value production (Onyango Margaret 2009). It is an important staple food for millions of people in developing
countries of the tropics where they play a pivotal role in food security. In East African region, much of banana production is
done by small scale farmers where over 90% of the produce is consumed localy. The most common banana cultivars grown
widely in Kenya include;
Source; Onyango M, Nguthi F, Mutisya J, Muniu F 1998
Genome group
Cultivar name
Province common grown in
End product
AAA-EA
N’gombe
Nyanza, Western,
Cooking
Ekeganda
Central
Sialamule
Ishighame
AAA
Dwarf Cavendish
Taveta Coast
Dessert
Giant Cavendish
Central
Dessert
Valery
Central
Dessert
Dessert
Israel
Kampala(Gross Michel)
AA
Muraru
Central
ABB
Bogobogo
Bomet,Nyanza
AAB
Kisukari
Central, Western
Kisii ndizi
Nyanza
Dessert
Banana industry is intimately linked to the disease that have afflicted
and continue to afflict this major commodity in world trade (Jeger et al
1995, Onyango M 2009).
The industry has seen a surge in pest and disease in recent years that
have lowered yields and plantation lifespan. Due to this a popular
variety such as Gross Michel has been replaced by Cavendish as a
result of loss in the resistance to race one of panama disease.
In one of their participatory rural appraisal exercises’ (PRAs)
carried out in Kenya, diseases and pests were found to be the major
limiting factors in banana production in most banana growing areas.
Among these pests and diseases, the following majored: Banana
xanthomonas wilt (BXW), Sigatoka, Panama, Banana Weevil, and
Parasitic nematodes. If the banana crop is to be protected then there
must be a strategic plan for control of pests and diseases (Onyango M
2009)
Banana production constraints in Kenya:
PRAs conducted in 1996-1997 in Nyanza, Central, Eastern, and Coast. Preliminary surveys BXW 2007.
In one of my field surveys with Kari Kisii staff and extension staff from the ministry of agriculture in
the farms of ten farmers in both Suneka and Mosocho areas on fifth July 2013, the following was noticed on
a” world bank” sponsored project;
1.FHIA-17 Hybrid AAAA did very well and was resistant to both Panama and Sigatoka diseases
2.GT was tolerant
3.Cavendish was tolerant
4.Apple banana/”Kisukari ndizi” was susceptible and indeed in some farms they were completely wiped out,
others they were stunted as opposed to other varieties planted at the same time.
Province
Constraints
Cultivars affected most
Coast
Black Sigatoka
Cavendish
Central and Eastern
Panama disease
Kampala
Nyanza/Western
BXW
All cultivars,
Panama disease
Kisukari or Kisii ndizi
Sigatoka
All cultivars
Moles
Weevils and Nematodes
PRAs conducted in 1996-1997 in Nyanza, Central, Eastern, and Coast. Preliminary surveys BXW 2007.
In one of my field surveys with Kari Kisii staff and extension staff from the ministry of agriculture in
the farms of ten farmers in both Suneka and Mosocho areas on fifth July 2013, the following was noticed on
a” world bank” sponsored project;
1.FHIA-17 Hybrid AAAA did very well and was resistant to both Panama and Sigatoka diseases
2.GT was tolerant
3.Cavendish was tolerant
4.Apple banana/”Kisukari ndizi” was susceptible and indeed in some farms they were completely wiped out,
others they were stunted as opposed to other varieties planted at the same time.
BROAD OBJECTIVE
This research is set to determine the effect of organic soil amendments (poultry manure ,ash, Tithonia and
press mud) application on panama disease in infected bananas, the appropriate soil amendment that can
manage the disease and determine if the PH has a direct effect on the disease development
Specific objectives
1.To determine the suitable organic soil amendment that can help manage panama disease and boost
yield in “ Kisukari ndizi”.
2.To determine the PH range within which panama disease development is encouraged.
HYPOTHESES
•Sustained use of organic soil amendments helps to manage panama disease and boost yields in “Kisukari
ndizi”
•Panama disease development is encouraged within a particular PH range.
JUSTIFICATION
Fusarium wilt (panama disease) is a serious problem in Nyanza, Western, Central, Eastern and Coast
provinces in Kenya. It affects particularly ‘apple’ bananas or ‘Sukari ndizi’ but other bananas such as Gros
michel (Bogoya), Bokoboko and silk are also affected to a lesser extent (Onyango M.; Kari information
brochures series 67/2008).
Farmers in Kisii County practice mixed farming where animal manure is readily
available which can be utilized in the management of this disease. In addition, there
are prominent farmers in the region who have specialized in poultry production from
where poultry manure is available and sold at 400/= per bag (5 debes). Other farm
manures are available like press mud from Sony sugar factory, Trans-Mara sugar
factory. Farmers are allowed to take any quantity they need free without any
restrictions. The problem may arise on transportation but serious farmers can join
hands and hire a track/ lorry that can carry a lot of press mud at ago for their
respective farm use.
Finally it is noted that research is needed in other areas such as:
1.The influence of environmental and edaphic conditions on the development of this
disease is incompletely understood (stores and Buddenhagen 1986).
2.The epidemiology of the TR4 outbreaks is confusing i.e. the Cavendish epidemics
have developed in plantations that were established from tissue-culture plantlets
(supposed pathogen free) and in areas without a recent history of banana cultivation
(stores and buddenhagen 1986). Therefore, this proposed research is intended to
address one aspect of edaphic environment (soil pH) and the effects of organic soil
amendments on panama disease development and management.
METHODOLOGY
The experimental design will be a completely randomized block design on three sites;
Suneka division, Mosocho division and Kari Kisii regional centre. In each division I
proposed to randomly pick ten farmers on whose farms the study will be conducted.
I also intend to involve the area Agricultural staff in randomly selecting the farmers.
In each farm we will work on five stools. Therefore to realize the specific objectives I
propose to do the following:
1.(a) Collect soil samples and infected crop parts; isolate and culture the disease
causing pathogen. (to be analyzed at Kari Kisii laboratories and University of Nairobi
Kabete college laboratories).
(b) Chop the infected plants and then apply; two kilograms tin-full of ash, two
kilograms tin-full of poultry manure, two kilograms tin-full of Tithonia, two kilograms tinfull of press mud each to respective chopped banana mats. This is repeated on
monthly basis for a duration of six months.
2. To collect soil samples from the selected sites and determine the soil pH that
predisposes the bananas to disease development. This will be done twice; before the
onset of the experiment and after the experiment is completed. The soil samples will
be analyzed at Kisii Kari laboratories and University of Nairobi, Kabete college
laboratories to get the soil pH data.
1.Manage panama disease and boost “Kisukari ndizi” banana yield and hence generate
increased income to banana farmers in Kisii County.
2.MSC. Research Thesis.
BUDGET
No
1
Item
Manure
2
Hire of pick-up
Unit cost @Ksh
a) 20 farmers x 3 bags of manure =
180 bag x @400/= per bag
a) Kari 3 stools x 400/= per bag
Each will carry 10 bags x 18 trips x @5000
3
Preliminary planning meetings
a)
4
Collecting soil samples
5
Infected banana samples
6
b)
a)
b)
c)
Refreshments @5000 x 2 sites (Suneka +
Mosocho)
Kari Kisii @2,000
Collecting bags @ 2,000 x 21
Transport/Fare @2,000 x 3 technicians
pH laboratory determination @10,000
a)
b)
Total in Ksh
72,000
1200
90,000
10,000
2,000
42,000
6,000
10,000
42,000
10,500
21,000
Hiring field staff (five )
Collecting bags @2,000 x 21
Laboratory; isolation and culturing @ 500 x 21
samples
c) Laboratory examination and identification @1,000
x 21 samples
Five months @5,000x5
7
Fare and accommodation for
senior staff
a)
b)
30,000
48,000
8
Miscellaneous
Three lecturers @10,000
Project coordinator; twice a month @4,000 x 2 x 6
months
125,000
50,000
Time lines for the two year MSc agricultural resource management programme: 2012/2013 intake
2012
Activity
Semester 1
Semester 2
Proposal
Presentation
Research work
Data collection,
entry and
analysis
Data entry and
analysis
Compilation of
thesis
Complete
experiments
Data
interpretationThesis
evaluation by
supervisors
Thesis
submission to
BPS
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2014
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REFERENCE
1. Narla Rama D.2012 Msc Crop protection training manual.
2.Onyango Margaret 2005, Panama disease; enemy of dessert banana production.
Kari Kisii.
3.Onyango Margaret 2009, Banana diseases and their management. Kari Kisii
4.M.Ferna’ndez- Falcon, C.E. Alvarez, R. Gorrin, M.M Herna’ndez and A.A Borges
2009;Influence of a Menadion derivative on banana panama disease developments
and yield enhancement. 2 :49-53
5.Ploetz, R.C 2005. Panama disease; An old Nemesis rears its ugly Head Part 2. The
Cavendish era and beyond. On line APSnet Features, doi:10.1094/APSnet Feature2005-1005.
6.Ploetz,R.C 2006a. Fusarium wilt of banana is caused by several pathogens referred
to as Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cubense.Phytopathology 96:653-656.