Growing Future Banana for Samoa

Project Overview

FW03-026
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2003: $2,951.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2005
Region: Western
State: American Samoa
Principal Investigator:
Alatise Fonoti

Commodities

  • Fruits: bananas, general tree fruits

Practices

  • Education and Training: demonstration, display, farmer to farmer
  • Production Systems: general crop production

    Proposal summary:

    Black leaf streak disease has cut deeply into banana production in American Samoa. This fungal disease, which infects all cultivars, attacks newly emerged suckers up to the fruiting stage. Leaves drop and trunks eventually die. Spread of the disease can be curbed with copper-based fungicides. But project coordinator Alatise Fonoti is concerned that chemical sprays on his farm might contaminate streams, wells and water catchments. His solution is to test a variety called Gold Finger, found to be resistant to black leaf streak in banana plantations in Guam, Hawaii and Western Samoa. Fonoti has arranged for at least 100 tissue-cultured Gold Finger bananas, which he will acclimate in a greenhouse and plant when three to four suckers appear on each.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.