Achieving Sustainable Cultivation of Bananas Volume 3

Burleigh Dodds has recently published the third volume of a three-volume series on Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas, one of over 160 titles in the Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science. The third volume is separated into several parts and within each part, several chapters outline the most important pests and diseases affecting banana cultivation throughout the value chain from pre-plant to postharvest. The book is an invaluable tool for students, scientists and technical production managers alike. (Book Review Published in Chronica Horticulturae Dr Karin Hennweg, ARC-ITSC, South Africa) Bananas are a key food source for millions, whilst their production supports the livelihood of farmers across the globe. However, recent research has identified the vulnerability of particular banana varieties to major pests and diseases. With the banana industry under threat of extinction, more research is required into understanding the biology of the pests and diseases that pose this threat so that more effective management strategies can be developed and the risk of future outbreaks reduced. Achieving sustainable cultivation of bananas Volume 3: Diseases and pests provides a comprehensive review of the major pests and diseases affecting global banana production including Tropical Race 4, black Sigatoka and banana streak virus. The book explores existing methods for pest/disease diagnosis and identification, current management strategies used to control and/or prevent outbreaks, as well as the development of disease-resistant cultivars and integrated pest and disease management programmes.