The banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, is an economical pest of Musa, distributed to most areas where the crop is grown. The beetle larvae produce feeding tunnels in the pseudostem and rhizome, reducing bunch weight and causing toppling or snapping of plants. In developing an integrated pest management system for South Africa, specific aims of the study were to quantify the genetic diversity of the species around the world, investigate the population dynamics of the insect, determine the potential of semiochemical mass trapping, elucidate the efficacy of cultural and chemical control methods and establish economic thresholds for the banana weevil on Cavendish bananas in South Africa. Pest status of the insect is variable around the world, and may be influenced by genetically distinct populations of the weevil. Six populations from four countries were sampled: Australia, Costa Rica, South Africa (South Coast, North Coast and Tzaneen) and Uganda. DNA was isolated from 12 individuals per population and subjected to amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. The AFLP analysis involved DNA restriction with EcoRI and PstI enzymes, ligation of adapters, and a pre-selective and five selective PCR amplifications. Empirical analysis of the AFLP fingerprints showed that, within populations, genetic diversity varied from 16-53%, with the South Coast and Tzaneen/Australian populations the least and most variable, respectively. The coefficient of gene differentiation showed that the Tzaneen population were the most differentiated from the South Coast population, while the South and North Coast populations were the most similar. All the populations showed statistically distinct marker frequencies, except for the Costa Rican and South and North Coast populations, which were similar. Based on the simple mismatch coefficient, a neighbour-joining tree showed the Australian, Ugandan and South African coastal populations produced monophyletic groups, while the South African Tzaneen population were removed from the other populations and presented an ancestral state. The population dynamics of the insect was investigated over two seasons and at three locations in the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Adult activity was monitored with semiochemical (Cosmolure®) baited pitfall traps. Traps were moved monthly to a random independent location, or left in situ for the duration of the experiment. The ontogeny was determined by dissecting felled plants and toppled plants (up to 2-week-old fresh residues), and harvested plants visually classified as an early and a late rotting stage (decayed residues). Replicated, randomised block designs were used in the experiments. The adult beetles were sexed and the percentage females with eggs and the number of eggs per female were recorded. Larval head capsule widths were measured with an electronic caliper. Ambient temperature and precipitation (rainfall + irrigation) were measured on site. Weevils were active throughout the year and mainly collected in stationary traps, with a collection peak in May and high numbers in early spring and late autumn/early winter. The activity was usually a negative and a positive function of ambient temperature and corrected rainfall, respectively. Eggs per female and percentage females with eggs were reduced during winter and a positive function of ambient temperature. The beetles sampled from plant material represented an equal sex ratio, while the pheromone traps collected a female biased sex ratio during spring and autumn/early winter. The beetle had overlapping generations with a peak of adults and larvae in autumn and late summer, respectively. Adults were mainly associated with decayed residues while larvae were mostly found in freshly toppled plants. Adults were the main over-wintering stage. The earliest larval instars were usually sampled during autumn. The data suggested that the beetle is multivoltine in the study areas and provided valuable information for the optimal management of the insect pest. Semiochemical adult trapping methods were compared in field trials using a randomised block design. Pseudostem traps, pitfall traps containing a pheromone (either Cosmolure® (Pheromone A) or Cosmolure+® (Pheromone B)), and unbaited pitfall traps (control), were compared over 5 weeks during all seasons along the Southeast coast of South Africa. Pseudostem traps treated with an insecticide, and rhizome traps were included as additional treatments in autumn. In summer two treatments were also added: individual suspension of both pheromones above a pitfall trap either in combination with or without a pseudostem trap. The adult beetles were sexed, and the number of internal eggs noted. Pheromone A proved to be the most effective of the different traps. Grouping of the pheromones resulted in a synergistic response, while combining the pseudostem did not enhance trap efficacy. The different plant material traps and the control were usually equally effective in catching weevils. Plant material traps caught greater numbers of fecund females, but pheromone traps captured a higher proportion of females. Treatment effects were much less pronounced in summer, and compared to a pseudostem trap, pitfall traps were the most efficacious during spring. Compared to conventional pseudostem trapping, Pheromone A pitfall traps should be optimally applied during spring in South Africa. Cultural control methods were investigated over 2 years at an ongoing trial in the Southern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Harvesting at ground level and dissection of remnants, and covering of the mat with soil and moving debris to the inter-row, were compared to a positive control that involved treatment of plants with a registered pesticide, and a negative control that involved harvesting at approximately 150 cm with no soil or sanitation amendments. Yield, weevil damage and pseudostem girth of plants were measured from August to November annually, while adult beetle densities were assessed over 4 weeks in October/November and April. Nematode samples were analysed in October/November every year. Damage parameters included the Coefficient of Infestation, the Percentage Coefficient of Infestation (PCI) at two intervals, the summed PCI value, the percentage cross sectional damage of the central cylinder (XI) and cortex, and the mean cross sectional damage percentage (X mean). A replicated block design was used in the experiment. The parameters were similar before the onset of the trial. Fruit yield and plant girth, corrected by nematode densities, were not significantly different in any treatment, nor were the nematodes controlled. Soil cover and recession of remnants was the only effective treatment, significantly reducing the Coefficient of Infestation, but not the adult density or any other damage parameter. The former showed promise as a cultural control method because it only needs to be applied seasonally and reduced the XI, the damage parameter most closely related to yield, by 14.18%. The weevil is difficult to control, and chemical control arguably provides the best opportunity to manage the pest. The efficacy of injecting bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, imidacloprid, oxamyl and water (control) into residual banana plants was determined. The chemicals were administered every even numbered month over 2 years at two locations in Southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Yield, weevil damage and pseudostem girth of plants felled from August to October were measured, while adult beetle densities were assessed over 4 weeks in October and April. Nematode samples were analysed in October every year. Damage parameters included were similar to that of the cultural control trial. Replicated block designs were used in the experiments. The parameters were similar before the onset of the trial. Fruit yield and plant girth, corrected by nematode densities, were not significantly increased after chemical applications, nor were the nematodes controlled. Fipronil and imidacloprid were highly effective against C. sordidus, minimising damage to the periphery, cortex and central cylinder of the rhizome and significantly reduced adult density. Fipronil caused a 95% and imidacloprid a 100% reduction in the XI. Injection of fipronil and imidacloprid provides an optimal chemical strategy in an integrated pest management programme for the banana weevil. Economic thresholds of the insect were investigated on bananas at four locations in the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Yield (bunch weights) and larval damage to felled plants were measured from August to October in 2003, while adult densities were assessed over 4 weeks in October 2003. Nematode samples were collected and analysed in October 2003. Damage parameters included were similar to that of the cultural control trial. Replicated block designs were used in the experiments. The economic-injury level (EIL) for chemical and cultural control was calculated. Nematode densities did not influence the yield of plants. The XI was the best predictor of yield, but under certain conditions X mean was the most important. Chemical control showed the lowest EIL, with more than 1 and 7% damage to the central cylinder when applying fipronil and imidacloprid, respectively. The EIL for cultural control was more than 11% damage to the central cylinder. A recommendation algorithm, considering all the findings of the individual studies, is provided for IPM of the banana weevil in the South Africa. The potential use of microbial and invertebrate (especially parasitoids) biological control and semiochemical mass trapping of the weevil requires further research. Long-term research should focus on host resistance, and weevil damage to the central cylinder can serve as indicator of susceptibility of Cavendish bananas. / Thesis (PhD (Entomology))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Zoology and Entomology / unrestricted

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:18:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SaintCLS_TESE.pdf: 4694097 bytes, checksum: 80ab61feec693a67ab89d69cc107d325 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-12-06 / The banana (Musa spp) is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. It constitutes an important food, because of their chemical composition and content in vitamins and minerals, especially potassium. It is notable for being versatile, by their taste, low price and their easily of being consumed in natura, favoring the poor population. There are several challenges to banana production in the world, including the aspect of food security, as regards not only the quantity produced, but also the quality of fruits, mainly under the aspect of demand for products free of pesticides. Focused in the perspective of agroecology theme, this study considered the involvement of local farmers, like experimenter farmers offering in their own work, not just a research environment, but also a demonstration unit for students and banana producers of these region. This research had as main objective of studying the population dynamic of C. sordidus traps and evaluate their control in terms of the Vale do Açu-RN. We will also collaborate with the technical support to local producers, since research has allowed him to these, during and after the experiments, as a way to achieve a participatory ownership of the results. It was observed population dynamic of adult C. sordidus, so that the population peak was in June 2010. As the larvae, it was found that two population peaks occurred in the month of December 2009 and in July 2010. The climatic variables did not influence the population dynamics of adults and produced negative effects in the young population of these insects, especially rainfall and relative humidity. There were differences between the traps studied on the capture efficiency of C. sordidus. Considering the four collections, economically, the best treatment was the "T4" Bait type "tile" (80 baits / ha), which had the lowest ratio of total cost and average of trapped insects. Considering eight samples, economically the best treatment was the "T1", Cosmolure ® Drum, which had the lowest ratio of Total Cost and Average of trapped insects. Treatment with bait type "roof" (T4) is greater sustainability for family farmers, not creating dependency on external inputs and on the other hand, provide occupation of manpower, thus contributing to income generation and environmental preservation . / A banana (Musa spp) é uma das frutas mais consumidas no mundo. Constituise num importante alimento, em razão de sua composição química e conteúdo em vitaminas e minerais, principalmente potássio. Destaca-se por ser versátil, pelo seu sabor, baixo preço e facilidade de consumo in natura, favorecendo a população de menor poder aquisitivo economicamente. São vários os desafios que se colocam à produção de banana no mundo, dentre eles o aspecto da segurança alimentar, no que concerne não só à quantidade produzida, mas também à qualidade dos frutos, principalmente sob o aspecto da exigência de produtos livres de agrotóxicos. Focado sob a ótica da temática agroecológica, este estudo considerou a participação dos agricultores locais, como agricultores experimentadores oportunizando em sua área de trabalho, não só um ambiente de pesquisa, mas também uma unidade de demonstração para estudantes e produtores(as) de banana da região. Esta pesquisa teve como principal objetivo, estudar a dinâmica populacional de C. sordidus e avaliar armadilhas ao seu controle nas condições do Vale do Açu-RN. Objetivou-se também, colaborar com o suporte técnico aos produtores locais, já que a pesquisa proporcionou o envolvimento desses, durante e pós os experimentos, como forma de se lograr uma apropriação participativa dos resultados. Verificou-se dinâmica populacional dos adultos de C. sordidus, de modo que o pico populacional foi no mês de junho de 2010. Quanto às larvas, verificou-se que ocorreram dois picos populacionais, no mês de dezembro de 2009 e no mês de julho de 2010. As variáveis climáticas não influenciaram na dinâmica populacional de adultos e produziram efeitos negativos na população jovem desses insetos, sobretudo a precipitação pluvial e umidade relativa do ar. Houve diferença entre as armadilhas estudadas quanto à eficiência de captura do C. sordidus. Considerando-se 4 coletas, economicamente, o melhor tratamento foi o T4 , Isca tipo telha (80 iscas/ha), que apresentou a menor relação entre custo total e média de insetos capturados. Considerando-se 8 coletas, economicamente o melhor tratamento foi o T1 , Cosmolure® Tambor, que apresentou a menor relação entre Custo Total e Média de insetos capturados. O tratamento com isca tipo telha (T4) representa maior sustentabilidade para a agricultura familiar, por não criar a dependência externa de insumos e por outro lado, propiciar ocupação da mão-de-obra, contribuindo para a geração de renda e preservação ambiental.

Submitted by Valquíria Barbieri (kikibarbi@hotmail.com) on 2018-03-20T19:50:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2014_Ivone Beatryz dos Santos.pdf: 13669128 bytes, checksum: c2da7dab129773c9a6e2f60719f01aca (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2018-04-10T18:45:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2014_Ivone Beatryz dos Santos.pdf: 13669128 bytes, checksum: c2da7dab129773c9a6e2f60719f01aca (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-10T18:45:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2014_Ivone Beatryz dos Santos.pdf: 13669128 bytes, checksum: c2da7dab129773c9a6e2f60719f01aca (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-28 / O ataque de coleobrocas é um dos principais fatores responsáveis pela baixa produtividade dos bananais brasileiros. Dentre estas, destacam-se o moleque-da-bananeira Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), considerado praga-chave da cultura, por encontrar-se amplamente difundida, causando prejuízos em todos os países produtores, e Metamasius hemipterus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), que nos últimos anos têm se destacado como praga em expansão na bananeira. O monitoramento periódico da população destes insetos contribui para diminuir os danos ocasionados às bananeiras, pois, possibilita ao produtor intervir no manejo da cultura antes que o inseto atinja o nível de dano econômico. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a eficiência de iscas atrativas para captura de coleópteros da família Curculionidae, assim como, monitorar a flutuação populacional de C. sordidus e M. hemipterus em plantio comercial de banana cv. Nanicão, no período seco e chuvoso, de maio de 2012 a abril de 2013, nas condições de bioma amazônico. Foram utilizados três tratamentos: 1) feromônio sintético de agregação - testemunha; 2) melaço de cana-de-açúcar e; 3) toletes de cana-de-açúcar, dispostos em parcelas de 0,5 ha cada. Entre as iscas avaliadas, tanto o melaço de cana-de-açúcar, quanto os toletes de cana-de-açúcar não demonstraram eficiência na captura de C. sordidus. Entretanto, a isca atrativa de toletes de cana-de-açúcar mostrou-se eficiente para o monitoramento e coleta massal de M. hemipterus. A flutuação populacional de C. sordidus, foi influenciada positivamente pela precipitação pluviométrica, apresentando maiores níveis populacionais na época chuvosa. Em relação a M. hemipterus observou-se que a população do inseto não sofreu qualquer influência de variáveis climáticas. / Weevils attack is one of the major factors responsible for low yield of brazilian banana plantations. Among them, there is the banana weevil Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar, 1824) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae), considered a major pest of banana, meet up widespread, causing damage in all producing countries, and Metamasius hemipterus (Linnaeus,1758) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), which in recent years has emerged as pest in banana plantation. Periodic monitoring of the population of these insects contribute to reduce the damage caused in banana plants, therefore, it becomes the producer to intervene in the management of the crop before the insect reaches the economic injury level. This present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of attractive baits for catching insects of the family Curculionidae, as well as monitor the population dynamics of C. sordidus and M. hemipterus on commercial banana plantation cv. Nanicão, in dry and rainy season, from May 2012 to April 2013, in conditions of the Amazon biome. Three treatments were used: 1) synthetic aggregation pheromone - as control; 2) sugarcane molasses and 3) sugarcane pieces, disposed in plots of 0.5 hectare each one. Among the tested baits, sugarcane molasses and sugarcane pieces were not effective to capture C. sordidus. However, the attractive bait sugarcane pieces proved efficient for monitoring and massal collect M. hemipterus in banana plantation. The population dynamics of C. sordidus, was positively influenced by rainfall, with higher population levels in the rainy season. Compared to M. hemipterus was observed that the insect population did not suffer any influence of climatic variables.

Dans les agroécosystèmes, la biodiversité fonctionnelle et la biodiversité associée fournissent de nombreux services à l'homme dont la pollinisation, la régulation biologique et le cycle des nutriments. L'association des cultures est une pratique agricole qui augmente la diversité des plantes dans les agroécosystèmes, fournit des ressources alimentaires alternatives et structure les communautés des arthropodes. Elle favorise les prédateurs généralistes pour la régulation biologique des ravageurs. Cette étude vise à comprendre comment la diversité des plantes, à l'échelle de la parcelle, structure les réseaux trophiques des arthropodes et peut participer à améliorer la régulation biologique des ravageurs. Tout d'abord, une méta-analyse a été réalisée afin de rechercher la relation générale liant la diversité végétale considérée à l'échelle locale et le contrôle des insectes ravageurs par les prédateurs généralistes. Ensuite, sur un réseau de 20 parcelles paysannes de la région de Njombé au Cameroun, nous avons étudié l'effet de la diversité des plantes cultivées sur la structure du réseau trophique des arthropodes. Les résultats ont montré que l'abondance des prédateurs était positivement corrélée avec la diversité des plantes alors que celle des herbivores était négativement corrélée avec la diversité des plantes. L'effet inverse de la diversité des plantes sur les abondances des prédateurs et des herbivores suggère que des effets top-down structurent la communauté des arthropodes dans les parcelles de plantain. Enfin, l'effet de trois cultures couramment associées au plantain (maïs Zea mays, macabo Xanthosoma sagittifolium, et pistache Lagenaria siceraria) sur i) la structure de la communauté des fourmis et ii) les dégâts de Cosmopolites sordidus ont été étudiés dans un essai réalisé en station expérimentale. Les trois cultures associées ont eu un effet significatif sur l'abondance de tous les taxa de fourmis collectés mais le sens et la magnitude de cet effet ont varié selon les taxa. Cela montre le levier que constituent les cultures associées pour structurer la communauté des prédateurs généralistes de l'agroécosystème. Les abondances de tous les taxa de fourmis étaient également corrélées avec les dégâts de C. sordidus. Les abondances de Camponotus spp., Monomorium spp., Paratrechina longicornis et Tetramorium sp. étaient négativement corrélées avec les dégâts de C. sordidus montrant leur potentiel de régulation de ce ravageur. Cette étude à l'échelle de la communauté de l'agroécosystème suggère qu'il est nécessaire de prendre en compte les effets de la diversité végétale à tous les niveaux trophiques pour espérer maximiser le service de régulation des ravageurs.Mots clés : Diversité des plantes, cultures associées, réseaux trophiques, arthropodes, fourmis, structure de la communauté / Functional diversity and associated biodiversity in agroecosystems provide and promote important services to human society such as pollination, biological control, and nutrient cycling. Intercropping is a practical way to increase plant diversity in agroecosystems and participates to provide alternative foods and to structure arthropod communities, including generalist predators involved in pest control. To better understand how plant diversity structures the arthropod food web and how the control of pest may be optimized, we first made one meta-analysis to understand the mechanisms linking plant diversity to pest control by generalist predators at local scale. We second studied the effect of plant diversity on the arthropod community in contrasted plantain fields. We showed that predator abundance was positively correlated with plant diversity while herbivore abundance was negatively correlated with plant diversity. This strong and inverse effect of plant diversity on herbivore and predator abundance suggests that top-down forces structure the arthropod community in plantain fields and that it should be possible to structure the predator community to better control herbivores including pests. In a third step, we measured the effect of combinations of three associated crops maize Zea mays, cocoyam Xanthosoma sagittifolium and gourd Lagenaria siceraria as intercrops on ant community structure and then the effect relation between ant abundances with Cosmopolites sordidus damages. The three associated plants had a significant effect on abundance of all ant species but in different magnitudes and with either negative or positive effect showing that the selection of plant species that are intercropped is an efficient way to structure the ant community. The abundances of all species of ants were positively or negatively correlated with the damages of C. sordidus larvae. The abundances of Camponotus spp., Monomorium spp., Paratrechina longicornis and Tetramorium sp. were negatively correlated to C. sordidus damage. These ants appear to be the best candidates for C. sordidus control. These findings will help in the design of plantain agroecosystems that enhance pest control services.Keywords: Plant diversity, intercropping, arthropod food webs, ants, interspecific interactions, habitat structure

La banane plantain (Musa paradisiaca) est l’aliment de base de millions de personnes dans le monde et sa culture génère des revenus permanents pour un grand nombre d’agriculteurs, dans des plantations de taille petite ou moyenne. Comme dans d’autres régions tropicales, la culture du plantain en Guadeloupe et en Haïti est soumise à de fortes contraintes parasitaires aussi bien telluriques (i.e. du sol : nématodes phytoparasites et charançon du bananier) qu’aériennes (Cercosporiose noire notamment). Les moyens de lutte conventionnels reposent sur l’usage de produits de synthèse dont les effets néfastes sur l’environnement (sols, eaux, animaux) comme sur la santé humaine ne sont plus supportables. Il est donc urgent de réfléchir à des solutions agro-écologiques permettant de rétablir les équilibres biologiques, de maintenir une bonne qualité des sols et une production optimale dans les systèmes de culture plantains. C’est le but de ce travail de thèse qui couple la réalisation d’un diagnostic agro-écologique dans des parcelles paysannes, et le test d’alternatives agro-écologiques en milieu semi-contrôlé. Pour ce faire, une typologie des systèmes de culture plantains a été réalisée à l’issue d’une enquête agro-environnementale dans les deux zones d’étude. Elle a permis de sélectionner 23 parcelles en Guadeloupe et 12 en Haïti dans lesquelles un diagnostic agro-écologique a été conduit. Sur la base de ce diagnostic et de la recherche d’alternatives agro-écologiques à l’usage des produits chimiques, une expérimentation au champ a été mise en place en Guadeloupe en station de recherche, permettant le test de trois pratiques culturales innovantes pour le plantain (seules et combinées), à savoir : i) l’introduction d’une plante de service Paspalum notatum pour la gestion des adventices et la réduction de l’utilisation d’herbicides ; ii) l’apport de vermicompost pour le contrôle des nématodes phytoparasites inféodés au bananier plantain et la fertilisation de celui-ci ; iii) l’utilisation de plants sains PIF (Plants Issus de Fragments de tiges) indemnes de nématodes et de larves de charançon du bananier. La typologie des systèmes de culture plantains révèle que : i) en Guadeloupe les précédents : jachère, ananas et banane plantain sont prédominants avec un niveau d’intensification faible (apports d’intrants chimiques faibles et peu fréquents) ou élevé (apports d’intrants chimiques élevés et plus fréquents) ; ii) en Haïti, les précédents : jachère, banane plantain et manioc prédominent avec un niveau d’intensification faible ou nul (apport d’intrants inexistant). Les résultats du diagnostic agro-écologique montrent que, i) lorsque le niveau d’intensification est faible, les bananeraies plantains pérennes et le précédent-ananas permettent de maintenir une bonne qualité du sol et une bonne régulation des parasites telluriques ; ii) lorsque le niveau d’intensification est fort, les populations d’ingénieurs du sol diminuent drastiquement, alors que le cortège parasitaire tellurique augmente sans que cela n’affecte l’obtention de bons niveaux de rendement instantannés (parcelles précédées d’ananas ou d’une jachère principalement) ; iii) en absence totale de fertilisation, il résulte une diminution de l’activité biologique du sol mais aussi du rendement du plantain, exacerbé par le choix des précédents-culturaux (manioc ou banane plantain) en lien avec les contraintes pédoclimatiques et la maladie des raies noires (Cercosporiose noire) causée par Mycosphaerella fijiensis, notamment au sein des parcelles Haïtiennes ; iv) la succession plantain/plantain est la plus pénalisante vis-à-vis de la culture du plantain, car quelque soit le niveau d’intensification, le rendement reste relativement faible, en lien avec une dégradation de l’état sanitaire, comparativement aux autres précédents. / Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) is the staple food of millions of people worldwide and its cropping generates ongoing revenues for many farmers who are planting small or medium size areas. As in other tropical regions, plantain cultivation in Guadeloupe and Haiti is under heavy parasitic constraints terrestrial (plant-parasitic nematodes and banana weevil) as well as aerial (black Sigatoka in particular). Conventional means of control based on the use of synthetic products which adverse effects on the environment (soil, water, animals ...) as on human health are not bearable any more. It is thus urgent to think about agroecological solutions allowing to restore the biological balances, to maintain good soil quality and optimal plantain cropping systems.This is the ultimate goal of this thesis which couples the realization of an agroecological diagnosis in peasants’ plots, and the test of agroecological alternatives in semi-controlled conditions. To do this, a typology of plantain cropping systems was carried out from an agrienvironmental survey in the two study areas. It allowed to select 23 plots in Guadeloupe and 12 in Haiti in which an agroecological diagnosis was implemented. Based on this diagnosis and the research of agroecological alternatives to the use of chemicals, a field experiment was set up in Guadeloupe, in an experimental station allowing the test of three innovative practices for plantain cultivation (alone and combined), namely : i) the introduction of a cover-crop Paspalum notatum for weed control while reducing the use of herbicides ; ii) the input of worms’ compost to control plant-parasitic nematodes specific to plantain and to fertilize it ; iii) the use of healthy “PIF” plants (plants issued from stem fragments) free from telluric pests (nematodes and weevil’s larvaes).The typology of plantains cropping systems shows: i) in Guadeloupe the previous crops are: fallow pineapple and plantain predominate with a low level of intensification (low and infrequent chemical inputs) or high (high and frequent chemical inputs); ii) in Haiti, the previous crops are: fallow, plantain and cassava predominate with a low level or no intensification at all (no inputs). The results of the agroecological analysis show that : i) when the level of intensification is low, perennial plantain and pineapple as previous crops help maintaining a good soil quality and a good regulation of the telluric pests ; ii) when the level of intensification is strong, the soil engineers drastically reduce, while the density of telluric parasites increases without affecting good levels of instantaneous yields (plots where the previous crop is pineapple or mostly fallow) ; iii) when the fertilization is totally missing, it decreases the biological activity of the soil furthermore the plantain yields, exacerbated by the choice of the previous crop (cassava or plantain), in connection with soils and climate constraints and the black Sigatoka caused by Mycosphaerella fijiensis, especially in the Haitian plots ; iv) the crop succession plantain/plantain is the most critical regarding the plantain’s cropping, because whatever the level of intensification, the yields remain relatively low in connection with a degradation of the health state, compared to other previous crops.The driving of an experiment in a research station shows that on the scale of one year, the three tested innovative practices allow maintaining a good soils quality. Healthy plants "PIF" have a better health state (absence of plant parasitic nematodes in the roots) which helps a significant increase of the yields. Cover-crop P. notatum helps the weeds and the soil pests control and favors the improvement of soil biological activity and plantain yields. Worms’ compost contributes to the maintenance of a better soils quality while allowing the regulation of the populations of plant-parasitic nematodes of the plantains.

El objetivo de esta Tesis Doctoral es estudiar diferentes herramientas para el manejo de plagas y enfermedades del cultivo de la platanera. Entre las herramientas que vamos a desarrollar, se van a analizar los compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COVs) fúngicos derivados de hongos entomopatógenos (HE) y nematófagos, como fuente de metabolitos con actividad antagónica contra el picudo negro (PN) de la platanera, Cosmopolites sordidus, para su control y manejo en el campo. Así mismo, vamos a estudiar las respuestas de cultivares de plataneras a quitosano, un polisacárido biodegradable, para evaluar su posible uso en el campo como estimulante y protector de las plantas frente a plagas y patógenos, como Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense. El conjunto de capítulos de esta tesis pretende sentar las bases de una estrategia de manejo sostenible de plagas y enfermedades del cultivo de la platanera, basada en el uso de COVs derivados de hongos presentes de forma natural en los cultivos, en combinación con la suplementación de quitosano en el riego, para un efecto de protección y activación de las defensas de las plataneras antes de cualquier infección de plagas y/o enfermedades. El objetivo principal de esta Tesis Doctoral es encontrar nuevas fórmulas para la gestión integrada de plagas como Cosmopolites sordidus y enfermedades de la platanera en condiciones de campo. En esta Tesis Doctoral hemos ideado enfoques sostenibles para la gestión de las plagas y enfermedades de las plataneras. Nuestros objetivos son: a) Cosmopolites sordidus (picudo negro de la platanera, PN), la principal plaga de los cultivos de plátano y, b) el hongo del marchitamiento Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Raza Tropical 4 (FocTR4), agente causante de una nueva variante extremadamente virulenta de la enfermedad del “Mal de Panamá”, que se está extendiendo rápidamente por todo el mundo. Nuestras herramientas de gestión sostenible son: a) los hongos entomopatógenos (HE, conocidos por su uso como agentes de control biológico, ACBs) aislados de campos comerciales de plátanos, b) sus compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COVs) y, c) el quitosano, un compuesto biodegradable y elicitor de la inmunidad de las plantas con actividad antimicrobiana. Damos evidencia de que los COVs de los hongos agentes de control biológico son repelentes del PN. Pueden utilizarse en los cultivos de platanera mediante estrategias de push and pull para gestionar la plaga de forma sostenible. El quitosano puede utilizarse en el riego para prevenir las defensas de la platanera local y sistémicamente. Por lo tanto, este polímero, con probada actividad antimicrobiana frente a otros patógenos de marchitamiento de Fusarium spp., podría utilizarse contra la actual pandemia en las plataneras causada por FocTR4. La capacidad de inducir reguladores del crecimiento de las plantas sostiene también el papel fertilizante del quitosano. La inducción de compuestos relacionados con la respuesta sistémica adquirida (RSA) hace que el riego con quitosano sea una herramienta para manejar también las plagas de las plataneras sobre el suelo (PN) y las enfermedades (Sigatoka). De esta manera, los COVs y el quitosano podrían ayudar a reducir el uso de agroquímicos tóxicos en los cultivos de platanera en todo el mundo.