Pests of major economic significance, their distribution in the Commonwealth Caribbean, the damage they cause and practices for their control are tabulated. The types of pests discussed are defoliators and foliage sap feeders and those causing damage to fruit, fiddler beetles, fruit flies, scale insects, and fruit piercing moths. The potentially serious pests of quarantine significance are summarised with their worldwide distribution and host plants other than citrus. The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata and the aphid vector of Tristeza, Toxoptera citricidus are significant

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

Poor phytosanitation affects banana quality through physical defects, harbouring of pests and diseases. The implications on marketing are briefly discussed

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)

A diseased mat eradication programme in which mats are injected with Round up, followed by cygon spray and the area sprayed with Gramoxone has been successful. 216,812 mats were destroyed between 1978 and July 1985. Findings of research funded by the EDF include early detection of infected mats by examination for corm discolouration, possibility of Ricinus comunis, begonia jumbie tomato (Solanum sp.) and Xanthosoma sp. as alternative hosts, a recommended fallow period between injection of mats and re-planting of 9-12 months, optimum weed killer and application rate (Round up at 20 mls 2 % soln) and a buffer zone of more than 8 in. in radius