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

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

Of the citrus diseases occurring in Surinam, fungal, bacterial, viral and those caused by nematodes, tristeza is most important. Trials to identify the best rootstocks to replace the tristeza-susceptible sour orange found Rangpur lime budded with nucellar Alidjan orange best on heavy clay soils. Sunki and King (tangors) are good rootstocks for grapefruit varieties. Research showed tristeza virus transmission by the aphid vector Toxoptera citricidus to be bi-modal (non-persistent and semi-persistent) in Surinam, with the latter more common

Describes a purification method for the Bunchy top virus based on density gradient centrifugation which allowed observation of the virus particles for the first time. Thirty micrograms of virus were obtained from 200g of infected leaves. To obtain large amounts of virus for antisera preparation the purification procedure has to be improved

Indexing, the ELISA test, Spiroplasma citri culturing, nucellar selection and shoot tip grafting are procedures used in Corsica to maintain virus-free budwood. Corsica has managed to remain free of the major diseases of citrus: Tristeza, Phoma tracheiphila (mal secco), Spiroplasma citri (stubborn) greening and Xanthomonas citri (citrus canker)