Mapa team travels through São Paulo to prevent pests that could compromise banana cultivation

A team from the Federal Superintendency of Agriculture of São Paulo (SFA/SP) is carrying out surveys on rural properties in different regions of the state with the aim of guaranteeing and maintaining the status of an area free of Tropical Race 4 of Banana Fusariosis in Brazil and the Moko da Bananeira in the state. Rural producers are receiving guidance on the risks of these pests entering, which could compromise fruit cultivation in the country.

Brazil is currently the fourth largest banana producer in the world, with an area of ​​466 thousand hectares and an estimated production of 6,7 million tons. The state of São Paulo is the largest producer, with 1 million tons per year, cultivated on 50 thousand hectares, 76,4% of which in the Vale do Ribeira region. In July, employees already carried out a survey of these pests in this region and the work will now continue in other areas.

In the week of August 17th to 19th, the program will be in the municipalities of São Bento do Sapucaí and Ubatuba, in the Taubaté region. In September, it is the turn of Oeste Paulista (regions of Fernandópolis, Jales and Andradina), where 12 municipalities will be visited. In October, in the Assis and Avaré region, properties from four cities will be included.

Tropical Race 4 (FOC R4T) has not yet arrived in Brazil, but is already present in Colombia and Peru, which is of great concern to Phytosanitary Defense, because there is no curative treatment or varieties resistant to the disease. “It is very important to prevent the entry of this pest, which can be spread mainly through banana seedlings and contaminated soil adhered to shoes and vehicle wheels”, explains Wilson da Silva Moraes, agronomist and phytopathologist at the Unit. Ipanema Regional Agricultural Technique (Utra Ipanema/SFA-SP). He is responsible for the annual survey of FOC R4T and Moko da Bananeira in the State of São Paulo.

Race 4 Tropical Banana Fusariosis is a soil-dwelling fungus that infects the roots and colonizes the sap-conducting vessels of the pseudostem [false stems composed of remnants of leaf sheaths that attach to the stem] of all banana varieties, mainly those of the Nanica type, preventing the transport of water and nutrients to the aerial part of the plant, causing its death. The fungus can remain viable in the soil for up to 40 years, making production unfeasible.

The professional's work is carried out in partnership with the Agricultural Defense Coordination (CDA) and the Rural Development Offices (Cati) of the São Paulo State Department of Agriculture.

Prevention

Concerned with prevention, Mapa launched the publication at the end of July“Dialogues to prevent Race 4 Tropical Fusariosis in banana trees”, which brings texts, voice messages, posters and infographics, in a work that will support rural extension. The material was designed and produced by the Health Education Commission (CES), coordinated by SFA/SP. Specialists from the Public Power and the private sector participate in the group.

This Wednesday (11), SFA-SP held a training Online about these pests for all CDA and Cati technicians, with the aim of “knowing to prevent”. Technicians and agronomists will have the opportunity to know the symptoms of these diseases and differentiate them from others, thus being able to filter the notifications that reach the Agricultural Defense.

Now, this team is organizing the practical application of the content of this publication. On August 24th and 25th, CES will meet with leaders from the Miracatu Banana Growers Association (Abam), which brings together eight production cooperatives, the Vala do Ribeira Banan Growers Association (Abavar) and the Rural Unions of Vale do Ribeira for this purpose.

The publication can be accessed free of charge nthe Mapa website.

Guidelines

Adopting a single access or entry for people and vehicles into the banana plantation and keeping a container for cleaning shoes and vehicle tires from visitors to the property is one of the tips that the team passes on to producers. Concrete boxes, known as foot baths or wheel baths, containing the sanitizer ‘quaternary ammonia’ help prevent the entry of contaminated soil.

Another precaution is regarding the import of seedlings. As Race 4 Tropical Fusariosis has already been found in Colombia and Peru, it is prohibited to bring banana seedlings and ornamental plants from these countries, as well as handicrafts made from banana fiber. “Producers must buy quality seedlings from nurseries registered in the National Seed and Seedling Registry, Renasem”, said the agronomist.

Moraes also reinforces the need to keep implements and agricultural equipment clean, as they can also carry the fungus from one area to another. “It is important to always disinfect shoes, tools and equipment when entering cultivation areas, this way you avoid transmitting these pests from one plantation to another”, he explains. 

During management, care must be taken when mowing to avoid damaging the roots and pseudostem of the banana tree. The use of balanced organic and mineral fertilizer based on soil analysis is an important recommendation to keep the banana plantation healthy.

Banana Moko

Unlike race 4 of Fusariosis, which has not yet arrived in Brazil, banana Moko already occurs in the northern region of the country. It is caused by a soil-dwelling bacterium, which infects from the root to the inflorescence [part of the plant where the flowers are located] or bunch, and can be spread by infected seedlings, contaminated tools or by root-to-root or soil contact. to the root. That is why it is so important to monitor this disease in the states where it does not yet occur, such as the state of São Paulo.

Another important vehicle of transmission are insects that visit inflorescences, such as bees, wasps and fruit flies. The disease compromises the development of the banana tree and the only way to control it is early detection and rapid eradication of infected plants and those nearby. “Even though they appear to be healthy, the seedlings may have already contracted the disease,” says agronomist Wilson da Silva Moraes.