Update, characterization and recommendations for the prevention and control of diseases in plantain and banana (musaceae) crops

The aim of the project was: Identify, characterize and update the phytosanitary status of plantain cultivation in Colombia and generate integrated management strategies for the most economically important problems, with emphasis on three components: 1) Elephantiasis: Determine biotic and abiotic factors associated with the root system of musaceae with emphasis on elephantiasis and to approach the identification of the causal agent of the disease, 2) Viruses: Determine the incidence and distribution of the virus species CMV and BSV in some municipalities of the central coffee zone of the country , 3) Fusarium wilt (Foc TR4): Develop molecular diagnostic methodologies for Foc TR4T in environmental samples: soil and water; Epidemiological analysis of the dispersion of Foc TR4 in Colombia and study of the edaphic predisposing factors of the disease, generating strategies for the prevention and management of Foc through the introduction of promising banana materials for their resistance to the disease, evaluation of the behavior of traditional plantain clones from Colombia in front of Foc.