Weevil borers affect the spatio-temporal dynamics of banana Fusarium wilt

Dispersal of propagules of a pathogen has remarkable effects on the development of epidemics. Previous studies suggested that insect pests play a role in the development of Fusarium wilt (FW) epidemics in banana fields. We provided complementary evidence for the involvement of two insect pests of banana, the weevil borer (Cosmopolites sordidus L. - WB) and the false weevil borer (Metamasius hemipterus L. - FWB), in the dispersal of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) using a comparative epidemiology approach under field conditions. Two banana plots located in a field with historical records of FW epidemics were used, one was managed with Beauveria bassiana to reduce the population of weevils, and the other was left without B. bassiana applications. The number of WB and FWB was monitored biweekly and the FW incidence was quantified bimonthly during two years. The population of WB and the incidence (6.7%) of FW in the plot managed with B. bassiana were lower than in the plot left unmanaged (13%). The monomolecular model best fitted the FW disease progress data and, as expected, the average estimated disease progress rate was lower in the plot managed with the entomopathogenic fungus (r = 0.0024) compared to the unmanaged plot (r = 0.0056). Aggregation of FW was higher in the field with WB management. WB affected the spatial and temporal dynamics of FW epidemics under field conditions and brought evidence that managing the insects may reduce FW of bananas intensity.