Incidence and severity of diseases associated to cultivation of bananas (Musa paradisiaca L.) in Rivas, Nicaragua

Abstract

In Nicaragua, the severity of pathogens that causes diseases on plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) has affected by reducing the production and income that this crop provides to small, medium and large producers. The food security that the crop provides to the producers has been threatened by diseases that affect the plant and its fruits. In order to determine the incidence and severity of diseases in plantain, this study was carried out between January and September 2014 in Rivas. Collections of diseased material were made in six banana farms in Rivas. The pathogens were identified in the laboratories of the Instituto de Protección y Sanidad Agropecuaria in Rivas and confirmed in laboratories of the Universidad Nacional Agraria. The variables evaluated in this study were, percentage of incidence and severity of black leaf streak disease per plant, area under the progress curve of black leaf streak disease, percentage of damage incidence of watery rot diseases of musaceae and tip. of cigar. As results of the study, the following pathogens in banana were identified: Micosphaerella fijiensis, Erwinia sp and Verticillium sp., In general it was observed that the incidence and severity of all disease-causing agents reflected a similar behavior in the six farms, these agents occurred in all sampling months, however, the highest severity percentages were manifested in the months of August and September 2014 with percentages that ranged between 60% and 67%, the largest area under the progress curve of the The disease occurred at the La Zopilota farm, followed by San Alberto and La Granja, the smallest area under the disease progression curve occurred at the El Espíritu, El Trapiche and Valentina.