Integrated pest and disease management for banana crops in East and Central Africa: Addressing the challenges of co-occurring biotic threats

Smallholder subsistence farmers dominate banana (Musa spp.) production across East and Central Africa, yet their yields are constrained by a suite of co-occurring biotic threats. Three major diseases, Xanthomonas wilt (XW), Fusarium wilt (FW), and banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) threaten productivity. These are compounded by two established pests (black weevil, plant-parasitic nematodes) and an emerging pest (banana thrips). Integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) protocols aim to mitigate these challenges by coupling disease-specific interventions with broader agronomic practices. While individual IPDM packages share core components, including biosecurity, accurate diagnosis, roguing, clean planting material, resistant cultivars, vector avoidance, and judicious chemical control, their efficacy can be compromised when multiple threats coexist. Synergistic or antagonistic interactions may arise under these conditions. Part 1 of this review synthesizes current literature on the core components of IPDM strategies for these six biotic stresses, highlighting commonalities and divergences among the recommended packages. In Part 2, it further evaluates the role of standard cultural and agronomic practices in disease-pest management outcomes. These include crop diversification, weed management, planting density, sucker and leaf removal, tillage, mineral and organic fertilization, biocontrol, mulching, pest suppression, and irrigation. By identifying compatibilities and incompatibilities in management when biotic constraints co-occur, and by addressing knowledge gaps across the various protocols, the review provides actionable insights for designing holistic extension programs that harmonize prevention and control measures. As such, IPDM programs should be better equipped to avoid unintended trade-offs and enhancing resilience in banana systems where these threats co-occur.