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In Africa, mixed cropping and intercropping are widely practiced, boosting the provision of ecosystem services such as improved pest control, nutrient cycling, and systems profitability. This study aimed at characterizing the role of associated crops in organic banana and plantain cropping systems and investigating their contribution to pest control and improved productivity of the system. The type of associated crops, crop productivity/profitability, and arthropod communities were assessed in 12 organic banana farmer's fields randomly selected. The attractiveness potential of predator arthropods in the plots of three vegetable species and cowpea associated with organic plantains was evaluated using an experimental site. In total, 2112 arthropod specimens were collected in organic banana farms including 975 individuals of predatory arthropods. The abundance of several predators including seven-spot ladybird Coccinella septempunctata, staphylinids Staphylinus sp., ants Camponotus sp., spiders Araneus sp. and some herbivore species variegated locust Zonocerus variegatus and vegetable leafminer Liriomyza sativae was manly observed in the gardens. The abundance of the three pest herbivores Chaetanaphothrips, Southern Green Stink Bug Nezara viridula, and Diabrotica virgifera were lower in the presence of associated plant species. Mixed gardens (or intercrops) had a significant effect on the overall productivity and financial profitability of the banana and plantain cropping systems. Groundnut and banana and plantain associations had the highest average gross margin per hectare followed by association with maize. In the experimental site, the predator abundance was highest on Vernonia amygdalina followed by Vigna unguiculata and Ocimum gratissimum. These Findings show out interesting banana and crop association which could help to implement strategies for sustainable ecological pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diseases and pests are a growing threat to small and large banana farmers and can cause catastrophic losses. Diseases affect all parts of the plant and are caused by fungi, bacteria and viruses. Although their impact is generally less devastating, pests, mainly insects and nematodes, are also significant factors. For better management of these diseases and pests, several technologies and or agroecological practices are often used by small farmers but are not often known or disseminated. Here, we did a meta-analysis combined with a review to describe banana diseases and pests as well as agroecological methods for their management. On the basis of the meta-analysis, 11 main bananas pests and diseases have been identified. Depending on the importance of their management by agroecological methods, Mycosphaerella fijiensis was most studied here (Z-value = 0.48), followed by the nematodes Radopholus similis (Z-value = 0.32) and Helicotylenchus multicinctus (Z-value = 0.32). The insect pests Erionota thrax (Z-value = 0.28), Cosmopolites sordidus (Z-value = 0.23) and Polytus mellerborgi (Z-value = 0.22) were also widely studied. Banana Bunchy Top Disease (BBTD) was moderately studied (Z-value = 0.26). There was a significant positive response of pest and disease to agroecological practices / technologies. Agricultural technologies involving the use of predators to control pests and the use of biopesticides were the most demonstrated in studies. This study made it possible to make a synthesis of the agroecological technologies and practices used to be disseminated for the bananas production by small farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a species native to the Americas which has spread to Africa in 2016. This insect has been reported in Benin as a major pest of maize causing important economic losses and putting at risk food and nutritional security. This study evaluated the damage caused by this pest to maize in different cropping system and management practices. It also assessed predatory ants presence and diversity and their potential in controlling FAW. Results showed that 50% of farmers grow maize in a mixed cropping systems in association with sorghum, cassava and cowpea and also used biopesticides. FAW larval population and damage in maize fields varied accros villages. Surprinsingly FAW larval population was higher in maize field sprayed with insecticides than untreated field. Seven species of predatory ants were recorded in maize field. Ants' population was higher in untreated field (1043 ants per hectare) than treated field (806 ants per hectare). In the laboratory, ants species exhibits great predatory potential. Further studies are needed to discuss uses of ants in FAW management in Benin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northern Benin, several agroforestry species are nectar-producing, with high medicinal and food values. These species are currently threatened by the destruction of their habitats caused by deforestation and agriculture, mainly cotton production. Considering their importance for humans and beekeeping, this investigation was carried out in one of the most important honey production areas in Benin. Individual interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to identify the medicinal and food plants associated with honey production. Data were collected on food and medicinal uses, beekeepers' preferences in the choice of melliferous species and constraints faced for honey and medicinal species conservation in the areas studied. From these data, 46 species of medicinal and food species were identified as melliferous. Thus, nine new species were added to the list of melliferous species in Benin. Most of the species are also used as sources of human food or medicine in traditional set up. Species preferred by beekeepers were those that provide large amounts of sweet, fragrant hone. It appears that honey from 11 plant species with a high use value was clearly recognized by beekeepers who are involved in various human diseases' treatment. The constraints hampering the management of these melliferous species are extensive farming, animal husbandry, anarchic logging. This study brings us the avenues for modernization of beekeeping and the possibility of producing therapeutic honey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop management strategies for the mango seed weevil (Sternochetus mangiferae), we surveyed infestation levels of the pest in three agroecological zones of Benin and determined the influences of abiotic factors on mango infestation levels and population dynamics in mango orchards at IITA-Benin from 2009 to 2011. We collected immature and mature fruits from the canopy and fallen fruits from under the canopy from three randomly selected trees per cultivar, per orchard. Samples were examined to determine the number of the mango seed weevil eggs to adults during the rainy seasons of three years of the study. Our results show that the highest abundance of both the weevil and its eggs was from March to May of each year. In the first year of sampling, the cultivar Eldon was more infested than the other two cultivars, while during the second and third years, the cultivar Alphonse was most infested. The occurrence of the weevil was almost nil in the hot agroecological zones, while for the mango cultivars of IITA-Benin the percentage of infested fruit increased or decreased according to the studied variables, such as temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity. We found that the period from March to May with low temperatures and high rainfall was favourable to the population increase of mango seed weevils. We discuss possible implications of our findings for the management of the pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]