Vegetation shields may reduce the risk of Banana Bunchy Top Disease in newly established gardens in equatorial forest production systems

The infection risk of vector borne diseases is closely linked to vector movement. Hindering vector movement within a garden and landscape could play an essential role in limiting BBTD infections at those scales, enabling the recovery of banana production in affected areas. A study of the frequency of the banana aphid, Pentalonia nigronervosa, on different banana (Gros Michel) and plantain (Libanga Likale, Libanga Noir, Libanga Lifombo, Akoto, Litete and Adili) varieties, was conducted in Masako, North-East of Kisangani (DRC), over a nine-month period. The experiment was conducted in a secondary forest, 100m away from other banana field. Bananas were established in 3m-wide plots separated from each other by a 5m vegetation strips. Aphids were present on all banana plants throughout the trial period. Fluctuations in the proportion of plants infested were observed in both fields, and corresponded to the seasons. Both rain and temperature contributed to these fluctuations. There was a relatively low occurrence of P. nigronervosa aphids in fields isolated with large vegetation shields, than the fields with low vegetation shield. Some aphid preference between cultivars was observed but was not consistent between seasons. Together these data help explain seasonal variation in new BBTD infections and would be useful in sustainable managing and monitoring the disease in small holder systems. Key words: Pentalonia nigronervosa Bunchy top disease, Virus, buffer sizes, suppressive landscapes.