Abstract:
Banana (
Musa
spp.) is one of the most important food crops
that contribute to the food security of the majority small holders
in Kenya. However, due to diseases, banana production has
not reached its full potential. Fusarium wilt caused by
Fusarium
oxysporum
f. sp.
cubense
(
Foc
); black and yellow sigatoka
leaf spot caused by
Mycosphaerella fijiensis
and
Mycosphaerella musicola
respectively, weevils (
Cosmopolites
sordidus
) and plant parasitic nematodes have been the major
diseases affecting banana seedlings. In addition, banana
Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) caused by the bacterium
Xanthomonas vasicola
pv.
musacearum
is a disease that rapidly
destroys plantations. Most of these diseases are spread by use
of infected planting material. Macropropagation is a cost
effective seedling production technology which can be
implemented with little capital and skill to provide planting
material. The study was carried out to determine the potential
of the the technology to produce healthy banana seedlings. From
the study, the macropropagation technique has potential for
banana seedlings multiplication only if the mother corms were
healthy.
