A citrus rehabilitation programme is underway to restore abandoned estates through weed control, epiphyte and parasitic phanerogam removal, pruning, fertilization and improved drainage. Phytosanitary methods of control of Moko disease (Pseudomonas solanacearum race 2) and Yellow Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella musicola) of bananas are listed. Virus indexing of citrus cultivars has been initiated and research into tissue culture of banana plants started

Moko control in Grenada by eradication of affected and adjacent (buffer zone) mats is discussed. The major constraints to the programme are poor reporting of disease occurrence, inadequate size of buffer zone, need for frequent re-visits to affected farms, uncertainty over the recommended length of the fallow period, and inadequate supplies of Moko-free planting material

The strategy is preventative based on a climatic forecasting system which receives data from 14 agroclimatic stations, complemented by biological assessments. The method used is termed 'state of evolution', an expression of the speed of disease development which varies with inoculum potential and climatic conditions. Benzimidazole and sterol-inhibiting fungicides are applied in rotation

Phytosanitary practices are recommended to reduce the incidence in the Windward Islands of banana pests and diseases: leaf spot (Mycosphaerella musicola), crown rot (Fusarium roseum), virus diseases (bunchy top), moko disease (Pseudomonas solanacearum), banana borer (Cosmopolites sordidus), rust thrips (Chaetonophothrips signipennis), flower thrips (Frankliniella parvula), Lachnopus beetle and nematodes

The major banana pests and diseases influenced by poor field management are highlighted. Control of leaf spot (Sigatoka) benefits from a plant density from 1550 to 2100 mats/ha, weed control and detrashing and adequate surface drainage. Nematodes, borers (cosmopolites sordidus), thrips and mosaic virus are reduced by weed control, trash removal and sleeving

The advantages of shoot tip planting material in banana production are briefly outlined. The production scheme and ongoing research at IRFA/Vitropic are summarised

The disease is endemic in Guyana and both the B and SFR strains of Pseudomonas solanacearum race 2 are present. Four resistant varieties have been introduced viz. Pilipita, Enano, Congo and Mari Congo, the first of which was best adapted to the conditions but has fruit of limited marketability

Second to Black Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis), Moko (Pseudomonas solanacearum race 2) is the most threatening disease to plantains and bananas. No resistance has been found on commercial varieties. It is present throughout Central America, as well as in Trinidad, Grenada, Brazil, Surinam, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and suspected in the Dominican Republic. Its detailed distribution in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru is described. Symptoms, pathogenesis and survival of race 2, which is pathogenic and divided into SFR, the major disease agent on bluggoe, and A and B are described. Disease control by elimination of diseased plants by glyphosate injections is detailed. Good control was achieved in 70 % of infected farms with a 90 day fallow after injection

Important features of the disease Pseudomonas solanacearum or Moko, affecting banana and plantain are reviewed. The history and distribution, host range, symptoms, causal organisms and dissemination, pathogen cycle, disease resistance and control based on sanitation methods are briefly described

Research is directed towards study of host-parasite relations. The 3 Sigatoka leaf spot pathogens, Mycosphaerella musicola (Yellow Sigatoka), M. fijiensis (Black Leaf Streak) and M. fijiensis difformis are compared morphologically and pathogenically. Species identification by electrophoresis on acrylamide gels has been studied, the species also differ in host range, geographical range, symptoms and distribution of lesions. Early tests of susceptibility of plantlets from meristem culture suggest that they react to infection in the same way as observed in the field