Preventive and curative effects of synthetic fungicides and essential oils against mycosphaerella fijiensis in banana

Bananas are the most consumed fruit worldwide, especially in West Africa. However, banana plantations are often infected by the ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis M., the agent of black sigatoka disease (BSD), also called black leaf streak, which can lead to yield losses exceeding 50%. This fungal disease is widely reported in banana plantations in Burkina Faso, causing significant reductions in fruit yield and quality. This study aims to improve banana productivity in Burkina Faso through integrated and sustainable management. The experiment was conducted using a factorial block design with two factors: the first factor involved treatment products (Copper Hydroxide, Mancozeb, Ocimum gratissimum, and Lippia multiflora), and the second factor involved application doses at three levels, including an untreated control. The experimental material consisted of vivo-plants of the Grande Naine banana variety and the BH isolate of M. fijiensis. The in vivo results showed that all plants exhibited a 100% incidence. In preventive treatment, the disease index increased from 29.16 % to 97.22 % in the control, while Ocimum gratissimum (15.27 % to 22.22 %) and Mancozeb (15.27 % to 20.83 %) significantly limited its progression, compared to Lippia multiflora (18.05 % to 54.16 %) and copper hydroxide (16.66 % to 62.33 %). In curative treatment, the control increased from 29.16 to 97.22, O. gratissimum from 12.5 % to 19.33 %, and Mancozeb from 16.66 % to 30.55 %, while L. multiflora (18.05 % to 66.66 %) and copper hydroxide (18.05 % to 70.66 %) were less effective. The AUDPC confirms the high effectiveness of O. gratissimum and Mancozeb, suggesting their use alone or in combination as part of an integrated black sigatoka disease management strategy.