Infestation of the banana root borer among different banana plant genotypes

ABSTRACT: In this study, we aimed to investigate Cosmopolites sordidus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae ) infestation among different banana genotypes in a commercial banana orchard over the course of 30 months. Banana root borer infestation was compared in 20 banana genotypes, including five varieties and 15 hybrids. Overall, we observed that 94.17% of pest infestation cases occurred in the cortex region, and only 5.83% occurred in the central cylinder. Genotypes least sensitive to infestation were the Prata Anã (AAB) and Pacovan (AAB) varieties, where no damage was recorded. Among the hybrid genotypes, PV 9401 and BRS Fhia 18 showed intermediate levels of sensitivity, while BRS Tropical hybrids (AAAB), PA 9401 (AAAB), BRS Vitoria (AAAB), YB 4203 (AAAB), and Bucaneiro (AAAA) were the most sensitive to attack by banana root borer. This study demonstrated that the infestation of the banana root borer varies according banana plant genotype, and the utilization of less susceptible genotypes could reduce infestation rates of C. sordidus.

Banana Root Borer, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

EENY-391, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Robert E. Woodruff and Thomas R. Fasulo, describes this serious insect pest of bananas with distribution throughout the banana growing regions of the world. Includes sections on synonymy, distribution, description, life cycle and biology, hosts, management, and selected references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2006. EENY-391/IN706: Banana Root Borer, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar) (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (ufl.edu)

PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF PESTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF BANANA ROOT BORER, COSMOPOLITES SORDIDUS GERMAR (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

PRELIMINARY SCREENING OF PESTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF BANANA ROOT BORER, COSMOPOLITES SORDIDUS GERMAR (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Biocontrol of the banana root borer weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus (Germar), with Steinernemotid nematodes

The entomogenous nematodes Steinernema feltiae Filipjev ( = Neoaplectana carpocapsae Weiser), S. glaseri Steiner, and S. bibionis Bobien (Steinernematidae: Rhabditida) were evaluated as biological control agents against the banana root borer weevil Cosmopolites sordidus. In the grub stage this weevil bore tunnels in the corms of plantains thereby promoting infection and plant decay. In petri-dish trials the three species produced severe mortality at population densities of 4,000 and 40,000 nematodes. Similarly, in greenhouse tests, the three nematode species at rates of 400, 4,000, and 40,000 nematodes/4-month-old plants apparently reduced the number of tunnels produced by the grub. Grub mortality was 100% at nematode populations of 4,000 and 40,000 per plant.