Changing Dynamics in the Spread and Management of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt Disease in Uganda Over Two Decades

Abstract

Banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) is a destructive disease caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (Xvm) bacterium that indiscriminately infects all banana varieties grown in East and Central Africa (ECA). In this region, BXW was first reported in 2001 in Uganda and was projected to eliminate >90% of Uganda’s bananas worth US$4 billion if not controlled in less than 10 years. Lack of basic information led to application of control approaches that were based on similarity of BXW symptoms to those of Moko disease of bananas. The approaches were however, unsuccessful and in 7-9 years, BXW had covered six countries and threatened to wipe out the banana industry in ECA. However, BXW has to-date been tamed, mainly due to relentless and systematic deployment of carefully crafted and packaged cultural control practices based on epidemiological information generated within target banana cropping ecosystems. In Uganda, the initial “top-down” communication approaches reached >85% banana farming communities but did not mobilize the communities enough into action; hence, only 30% impact in controlling BXW was registered. In contrast, participatory approaches mobilised farming communities into action and effectively controlled BXW at field and community levels to near eradication. The approaches effectively controlled BXW in Uganda, and consequently, in eastern Kenya, northern Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC. This paper reviews step-wise processes leading to success over the 2 decades and identifies critical research gaps. Deployment of resistant genotypes is urgently needed as a significant addition to the BXW management tool-box to create BXW-free banana cropping systems in ECA.

Overview of the Current Status of Uganda’s Banana Sector: Formalizing the Matooke Sector may not be the Best Policy Option

“…Additionally, the rain-fed banana system under increasing droughts complicates the soil nutrition issue since soil moisture is known to affect banana plants' uptake of soil nutrients [17]. Among the biotic constraints, the emergence of BXW has affected banana productivity since 2001 when the disease was first reported in Mukono district in central Uganda [3,21]. Between 2001 and2006, the disease spread quickly to all major banana-producing regions because little epidemiological information was available about the abrupt BXW outbreak [21].…”

“…Among the biotic constraints, the emergence of BXW has affected banana productivity since 2001 when the disease was first reported in Mukono district in central Uganda [3,21]. Between 2001 and2006, the disease spread quickly to all major banana-producing regions because little epidemiological information was available about the abrupt BXW outbreak [21]. The causative bacterium, Xanthomonas vasicola pv.musacearum (Xvm) is known highly transmissible via infected plant materials, contaminated farm tools and soil, trade of bananas and its products, and vectors including insects, birds, and bats.…”