New control for Panama disease

Scientists in India believe that a new control technique may prove cost-effective in controlling Panama disease the widespread fusarial wilt that inflicts serious damage on bananas.

The new technique involves injecting a solution of 2% carbendazim directly into the corm, and the researchers from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University have compared this treatment to soil drenching with Methoxy ethyl mercuric chloride - the common treatment at present and to using a combination of the two methods. Results show that the new technique is extremely effective, indicating the curative action and stimulation of plant growth by carbendazim. The best control of all was given by the combined treatment, though the optimum cost-benefit came from the corm injection on its own. Similar effects from the application of carbendazim have been reported in other crops.

For more details, contact:
Department of Plant Pathology Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore 641 003 INDIA