The devastating threat of black leaf streak disease caused by Pseudocercospora fijiensis on plantain production in West Africa spurred the development of resistant hybrids. The goal of this research and development (R&D) undertaken was assessing the development and dissemination of two plantain hybrids PITA 3 and FHIA 21 bred in the 1980s by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA, Nigeria) and the Fundación Hondureña de Investigación Agrícola (FHIA, Honduras), respectively. In Côte d’Ivoire, plantain growers selected PITA 3 and FHIA 21 based on their improved agronomic characteristics and, between 2012 and 2016, they were massively propagated and distributed to farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo under the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAAP) coordinated by the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF). In 2016, the Centre National de Recherche Agronomique in Côte d’Ivoire included the hybrids in the improved cultivar directory. This R&D activity illustrates how three decades of crossbreeding, selection, and distribution led to local acceptance. It also highlights how a CORAF-led partnership harnessed CGIAR research for development. The dissemination and acceptance of these plantain hybrids will enhance the sustainable intensification in plantain-based farming systems across the humid lowlands of West and Central Africa.

The Black Leaf Streak Disease (BLSD) is one of main parasitic constraints of the agro-industrial plantations of banana in the world. Caused by a fungus ascomycete (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet), the losses of yield are up to 50 %, without of resistant cultivars and effective management. This study relative to the level of the disease has been conducted in 12 industrial plantation in 6 production area: Aboisso, GrandBassam, Dabou, Agboville, Azaguié and Tiassalé; for a total surface of 2576 ha. The observations concerned the ranks of Youngest Leaf Spotted (YLS), of the Youngest Leaf Necrosed (YLN), the Number of Standing Leaves (NSL) and the gap between the Youngest Leaf Spotted and the Number of Standing Leaves. The results showed that chronic re-infestation of industrial plantation during the last five years, except CDBCI Tiassalé-Songon in 2011 European Scientific Journal January 2016 edition vol.12, No.3 ISSN: 1857 -7881 (Print) e -ISSN 1857 38 and 2012. An acceptable level of re-infestation was observed in 2012 on other plantations, with the rank of YLS greater than or equal to 3, except BATIA Tiassalé and CDBCI Azaguié. The internal inoculum pressure (YLS) varied a lot from one plantation to another and from one year to another. Except plantation SBMK Aboisso and BATIA Tiassalé, other plantations had at least one value of the rank of the top YLS or equal to 8, during the study indicating a relatively low severity of the BLSD. RésuméLa maladie des raies noires (MRN) est une des principales contraintes parasitaires des plantations agro-industrielles de banane dessert dans le monde. Causée par un champignon ascomycète (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet), les pertes de rendement dues à cette maladie foliaire peuvent dépasser 50 %, en absence de cultivars résistants et de lutte efficace. Cette étude, portant sur le niveau de la maladie, a été menée dans 12 plantations industrielles réparties en 6 bassins de production : Aboisso, Grand-Bassam, Dabou, Agboville, Azaguié et Tiassalé ; pour superficie totale 2576 ha. Les observations ont porté sur les rangs de plus jeune feuille touchée (PJFT), de la plus jeune feuille nécrosée (PJFN), le nombre de feuilles érigées (NFE), l'écart entre la plus jeune feuille touchée ( IntroductionLa maladie des raies noires (MRN) due au champignon Ascomycète (Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet) est la principale contrainte fongique affectant les bananiers après la reconversion variétale liée à la maladie de Panama (Lassoudière, 2012). En effet l'industrie bananière n'a dû son salut qu'au remplacement de la variété Gros Michel (sensible à l'agent causal de la maladie de Panama Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense) par des variétés du groupe sinensis (Lassoudière, 2012). Initialement connue sous une forme dite jaune, relativement moins agressive (M. musicola Leach), la maladie des raies noires possède un spectre d'hôtes plus large puisqu'elle attaque avec succès les cultivars du groupe plantain, lesquels sont résistants à M. musicola (Fullerton, 1994). Elle est responsable de l...

Chemical insecticides have been commonly used against the black weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, in banana plantations which caused huge economic and agricultural losses. Despite their benefits, pesticides can be hazardous to both humans and the environment. Intensive research in substituting chemical insecticides with biological control agents have been driven. The biological and molecular characteristics of ten strains of Metarhizium spp, isolated from dead weevils, collected in banana plantation in Côte d'Ivoire were studied. The study aims to identify the species of European Scientific Journal July 2018 edition Vol.14, No.21 ISSN: 1857 -7881 (Print) e -ISSN 1857-7431 74Metarhizium sp. The biological and molecular characteristics namely: length and width of the spores, colour of aerial mycelium as well as its variation over time, colour on the setback of the box, production of the diffusible pigment and the analysis of the region ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) were evaluated. The colonies presented at first a flat white mycelium cottony or fluffy appearance on which the spores formed small islets. After 21 days of incubation at 32°C. in the dark, the mycelium takes on the periphery a greenish coloration with a powdery appearance. The relief is fairly flat. The spores are ellipsoid in shape of 3 μm in length and 1 μm. The amplification by ITS-DNA PCR generated a specific fragment of 550 bp. The analysis of the ITS region of the sequences of these ten (10) isolates showed maximal correspondence with different strains of M. anisopliae and Metarhizium pinghaense.

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Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) serves as a major staple food. However, its production is seasonal and this situation led to a shortage of more than five months (June to October). The extension of cultivable areas and the use of high yielding improved varieties are severely limited by the low availability of planting materials free of diseases and parasites. The purpose of this study is to establish optimal conditions for the mass production of clean planting materials. Freshly harvested suckers from plantain namely ‘‘Corne 1’’, ‘‘Orishele’’, ‘‘French 2’’ and ‘‘Red Ebanga’’ and suckers dried and stored for one month were trimmed and peeled so as to have four weight ranges. The prepared suckers were planted in propagator filled with different substrates. The results revealed that whatever the culture substrate used, the shortest time to induce shoots and the higher number of shoots were observed with dehydrated and non-dehydrated suckers larger than 750g. Non-dehydrated Suckers with this weight expressed the longer lifetime (124-140 days). Among the substrates tested, shoots induction was faster with non-dehydrated suckers on fiber coco (12 days) and with dehydrated suckers on mix sawdust (15 days).

Objectif : L'étude vise à rechercher des milieux alternatifs de culture pour la production en masse de Metarhizium anisopliae, conditions nécessaires à la formulation d'un bio pesticide. Spécifiquement, des milieux de culture, issus de la valorisation des parches de café et de cacao) et de la mélasse ont été testés à cet effet Méthodologie et résultats : Les parches de café et de cacao, réduits en poudre pour leur utilisation. La capacité de sporulation de chaque milieu est évaluée à l'hématimètre de Malassez. Ces milieux, complétés avec de l'antibiotique chloramphénicol, sont répartis dans des boîtes de Pétri de 11 cm de diamètre. Quatre répétitions sont réalisées par milieu. Les colonies des isolats de Metarhizium anisopliae, sur les milieux de cultures, abondent après repiquage, en moyenne au bout de 10 jours d'incubation (28±2°C) à l'obscurité. La réaction singulière de chaque isolat sur chaque milieu de culture a permis d'identifier le milieu adéquat, T1Camel, T11Camel, T10Camel, T8Camel ou T9Camel, au développement des isolats en remplacement des milieux conventionnels que sont le riz et le PDA. Conclusion et application des résultats : Les milieux composés de café, de cacao et de mélasse peuvent être utilisés comme milieu de culture de Metarhizium anisopliae pour la formulation d'un bio pesticide contre le charançon noir du bananier.

Aims: Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) flow in research and development area inside and outside many countries are not indexed or listed and are insufficiently documented. In Côte d’Ivoire, when implementing the Multilateral System (MLS) project, a survey was realized with different actors as well at national as international levels to collect data dealing with exchanges flow characteristics of main food crops as yam, cassava, rice and plantain. The objectives of the current study are i) to know about internal and external exchange flow of genetic resources of yam, cassava, rice and plantain in Côte d’Ivoire, ii) to assess Côte d’Ivoire dependence regarding external PGRFA, iii) to indentify international research agreements or research network facilitating Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) in Côte d’Ivoire and iv) to determine constraints or opportunities related to access to external PGR in the future. Study Design: A questionnaire was submitted to actors managing main consumed food crops in Côte d’Ivoire such as yam, cassava, rice and plantain. Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted in 2019 and sampled data on period starting from 2005 to 2014 about the flow of genetic resources of yam, cassava, rice and plantain inside and outside Côte d’Ivoire located in Western Africa were studied. Methodology: This comprised the collection of data using a questionnaire related to characteristics of PGRFA flow inside and outside Côte d’Ivoire, within institutions in charge of PGRFA. A survey was conducted with national and international actors involved in yam, cassava, rice and plantain genetic resources. Moreover, surveys on PGRFA flow data were supplemented by reports from research programs dedicated to these food crops. Results: Results revealed that genetic resources of yam, cassava, rice and plantain are exchanged at variable levels within different actors. Contrary to plantain, a growth of vegetal material exchange within actors was observed at national level in yam, cassava and rice. PGRFA exchange flow at international level are positively unbalanced in favor of importation from Groupe Consultatif pour la Recherche Agricole Internationale (CGIAR) creating by this way a relatively marked dependence excepted to yam where ongoing varietal breeding relies on local genetic resources. Very few or no data was given back to national research and development institutions and farmers from Côte d’Ivoire on national PGRFA sent outside for breeding purposes. In the same line, neither any law nor regulations were set up at national level to ensure traceability of plant material exchanges according to international agreements and conventions. Conclusion: The consequence of this inventory of fixtures about systems of genetic resources exchange and evolution in Côte d’Ivoire is the lack of regulatory mechanisms allowing populations owning traditional knowledge take profit of an access and a fair sharing of advantages arising from the use of PGRFA as yam, cassava, rice and plantain.

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