Identifying research priorities for the management of diseases associated with fruit trees in Jamaica
2009
Elliot, S., Ministry of Agriculture, Research and Development Division, Bodles Research Station, St. Catherine (Jamaica) | Myers, L., Ministry of Agriculture, Research and Development Division, Bodles Research Station, St. Catherine (Jamaica) | Williams, J., Ministry of Agriculture, Research and Development Division, Bodles Research Station, St. Catherine (Jamaica)
The Ministry of Agriculture within the last seven years has placed significant resources in the establishment of orchards of ackee (Blighia sapida), mango (Mangifera indica), sweet sop (Annona squamosa), soursop (A. muricata), custard apple (A. reticulata), June plum (Spondias dulcis), avocado (Persea americana) and breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) through the Fruit Tree Crop Project. The rationales for the development of a fruit tree crop industry were to increase the foreign exchange earnings from the export of fresh fruits and processed foods and to increase the fresh fruits and processed foods for domestic consumption. Literature reviews have indicated that a number of economic diseases are associated with these crops, the earliest being in the 1920s. It is pertinent to investigate the current pest status of these crops, therefore, monitoring of orchards, nurseries, germplasm banks, demonstration plots, and home gardens were conducted from January 2006 to present. The major diseases found to be associated with these crops are twig dieback and anthracnose of the annonas, leaf spots of ackee and avocado, stem canker of grafted ackee seedlings and June plum, and anthracnose of mango, avocado and breadfruit. This information has facilitated the development of research priorities and management strategies for the fruit tree industry.
显示更多 [+] 显示较少 [-]