Banana Industry Pilot Demonstration Studies For
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Philippine Journal of Crop Science 2003, 28(2): 31-43 Copyright 2005, Crop Science Society of the Philippines Released February 2005 BANANA PILOT DEMONSTRATION STUDIES FOR BUKIDNON: TABLE SALT & EARLY DEBUDDING To CONTROL `BUGTOK' DISEASE OF COOKING BANANA CULTIVARS 'SABA' & `CARDABA' 1 HERMINIO M PAVA, 2 NONITO S FRANJE & 3 TERESITA J TIMARIO 'Agronomist and Scientist III, 2 Plant Pathologist and Scientist II, 3 Research Assistant, Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines 2001 Beyond the target 10 ha, the project was able to establish and maintain 14 ha as demonstration field on how to prevent `bugtok' (causal organism Pseudomonas solanacearum) infestation in a banana plantation. In the fourth year, this project produced 2,489 bunches although some were just planted about a year ago or an increase of about 136% from the previous. The package of technology, which comprised bagging, early debudding and application of sodium chloride (table salt) at flowering, was found as an overall effective alternative for the prevention of the `bugtok' disease of 'Saba' and rardaba' banana cultivars in Bukidnon. Based on the results of the study, a monograph was published as extension material and massive trainings were conducted as part of a campaign to prevent `bugtok' in the area. Participants from 20 barangays from 11 municipalities of Bukidnon, 4 in Misamis Oriental and 1 in Camiguin received training on the CMU package of technology, for a total of 972 participants during the 4-year study. Another component of the project was the production of disease-free planting materials by tissue culture. Subsequently, the explants were planted side by side with suckers by 2 farmers. In the 4th year, the results confirmed previous findings that planting materials from tissue culture performed better than suckers, as they produced more suckers, flowered earlier, grew bigger bunches and had more hands per bunch. On the impact of the package of technology, a survey showed that from 75 ha planted to 'Saba' in 1998-1999, the area had increased to 490 ha in 1999-2000, an increase by more than 553%, indicating grower confidence in the technology. Keywords banana, `bugtok' disease, Bukidnon, `Cardaba', debudding, 'Saba', tissue culture INTRODUCTION banana as one of the priority crops as an 'export winner.' Banana is the premier fruit crop in the Banana can be used asfoodandfor Philippines(PCARRD1992).Itisgrown industrial purposes. Several products can be practically throughout the archipelago. It is one derived fromitsplantparts;hence,itis of the easiest crops to grow. The banana industry sometimescomparedtococonutwhichis contributessignificantlytothecountry's considered by many as the 'tree of life.' It can be economy. Export earnings from banana eateneitherfreshorcooked and can be represent 2.3 percent of the total Philippine processed into several delicious products such as export revenue, as the country is one of the top puree,jam,jelly,catsup,vinegar,chips, banana exporters in the world. Moreover, thispinasugbo, turon or banana cue, among others. industry employs more than 40,000 people in Banana fibers can also be extracted and made related industries. The Department of Science into raw materials for the cottage industry. and Technology (DOST) Science and Technology However, the banana industry has been Agenda for National (STAND) 2000 includes beset with problems of diseases that almost all cultivars of banana have been wiped out in most measures for banana `bugtok' disease of banana growing areas in the country. This has `SabaTCardaba' cultivars caused palpable economic stress on the national 2.To produce disease-free planting as well as local economies. materials, and Among the most serious diseases are the 3.To come up with appropriate extension `bugtok' and `moko' diseases (both caused by the materialsforotherfarmersinthe bacteriaPseudomonassolanacearum (syn. province and elsewhere. Ralstonia solanacearum), which are known as Theprojectwasexpectedtoincrease soil-borne diseases and transmitted by sucking awareness of the need and skills among banana insects, probably thrips (Soguilon et al 1995). farmers how toprevent/control the`bugtok' Because of the prevalence of these diseases the disease. It was also expected that the project banana industry in the province has been greatly would increase `Saba'/Vardaba' banana affected. Almost 95% of the banana plantation of production by from 5 to 10% annually. Bukidnon succumbed to the disease and the farmer's only alternative had been to demolish MATERIALS & METHODS the plantation and plant the area with other crops that they were not familiar with. The The methodology employed by the project cultivars most affected are 'Saba' and Vardaba,' consisted of the following: the most popular varieties for making quality (a) Technology-gathering chips, flour and ketchup (Fresco 2002). This is (b) Establishment of demonstration site not surprising as these are the most widely (c) Farmer training grown cultivars for such purposes. (d) Provision of technical support The `bugtok' disease causes the banana fruit (e) Production of extension materials to form lumps which make the flesh unpalatable (f)Tissueculturetoproduceplanting even when ripe. If the disease is not controlled, materials. the banana industry will become a thing of the Technology-gathering - At the start of the past, and thousands of families will suffer. project, technologies recommended by The useof chemical meanstocontrol government agencies and private individuals bacterial or fungus disease is not recommended were gathered for verification in the field. because of the expenses involved. Some farmers Verification-demonstration site A have reported the use of table salt (sodium cooperative was selected and then assisted in the chloride) and rice hull as indigenous control establishment of a verification-demonstration measures but as yet there is no formal research farm using suckers of the existing 'Saba' and to verify such claims. Vardaba' cultivars growing in the field. These In order to help revive and rehabilitate the banana plantations were used to verify and banana industry, it was deemed appropriate to demonstratethetechnologiesinpreventing put up pilot verification-demonstration plots in and/orcontrolling the`bugtok'disease.The Bukidnon in line with the Philippines 2000 initial target was 10 ha for the duration of 4 program of the government. The province of years duration of the study. Bukidnon was chosen as the study site because The project was designed toverify and of its favorable climate, suitable soil and its demonstratespecifictechniques on how to being free from typhoons. prevent/control`bugtok'diseaseinfarmer- The ultimate objective of the project is to cooperators' plantations. Other farmers of the revive and rehabilitate the banana industry in province were invited to see for themselves in the province. The specific objectives are: order that they could learn and apply the 1.To verify and commercialize technology in their own banana plantations. recommended preventive control Training - Farmers, housewives and out-of- school youths were trained on banana production (j)Topping of inflorescence upon flower technology including prevention and control of emergence. `bugtok' and other diseases. Bagging of the inflorescence (puso) - Lydia V Technical Support - Technical assistance to Magnaye ofBPI,Bago-Oshiro, DavaoCity the banana growers were provided after the recommended bagging the inflorescence training. This was to ensure that the proper immediately when it begins to bend. The bagging steps in implementing the technology were material has opening at the bottom to allow followed. mature bracts to fall. Once the last hand is Productionof ExtensionMaterials - A formed, the inflorescence is cut off and the bag is monograph and other extension materials were removed and/or transferred to another (at least 2 produced by compiling mature technologies from times). PCARRD and other research agencies of the Clean culture and early debudding (removal country and also from the experiences of this of puso) - This was also recommended by Lydia project after one year of operations. These were V Magnaye.SusanPelinio ofDamulog, used as handouts during trainings. Bukidnon practiced it in her farm. Additionally, Tissue culture - Production and Susan said that the banana plantation must be multiplication of disease-free planting materials cleaned thoroughly by cutting down dead trunks of banana was done using the tissue cultureand dead leaves. (This is to remove the food laboratory of the Department of Horticulture of source for carrier insects.) These could then be CentralMindanaoUniversityinMusuan, piled in-between the rows of banana. Aside from Bukidnon,usingtheavailable'Saba'and controlling the weeds, this practice also enabled `Cardaba' plantings. hertoproduceplentyofediblebanana mushrooms. The project learned that there were RESULTS & DISCUSSION two other farmers who were practicing this type of clean culture but their banana plantations Indigenous and recommended technologies could not be reached by land vehicle and were far In order toverify and demonstrate the from the barangay proper. indigenous and recommended techniques, the Table salt (sodium chloride) - This was project leader and study leader visited some recommended by Edna M Jover,Professor, agencies and farmers who practiced them or did University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in some researches on them. The following were Kabacan, North Cotabato. She said