Farmers’ Practices for the Orchard’s Maintenance and Post-Harvest Treatment of Cocoa in Infiltrated Classified and Unclassified Zone of Méagui (South-West, Côte d’Ivoire)

An important part of Ivorian cocoa production comes from infiltrated classified forests. The objective of this study is to investigate orchard maintenance and post-harvest cocoa treatment practices used by cocoa farmers in infiltrated classified and unclassified areas of Méagui. To do this, 110 producers in two localities of the said zone were individually interviewed from February to April 2022, using a declarative questionnaire. It was found that cocoa orchards in the zone are aging. Nearly 68.55% of producers were heirs and 58.33% of those interviewed were under 46 years of age, with an average age of 43 years. Nearly 84.55% of the producers surveyed mainly use chemical insecticides to control the pests of greatest concern in these localities. Regarding the frequency of insecticide treatments, 11.82% of producers make 1 to 2 applications a year, 29.09% make 3 to 5 applications a year, and 43.64% make at least 6 applications a year. The active substances of the most used products belong to 99% of the Neonicotinoid and Pyrethroid families. Regarding cocoa harvesting and post-harvest operations, 93.64% of the producers carry out a single harvest/month;all do the shelling with mini machetes. Beans are fermented mainly in black plastic tarpaulins or in bags, for a period of 3 to 5 days (65.45%). Drying is done almost entirely (91.82%) on the black plastic tarp. This study shows that cocoa farmers in the areas surveyed do not respect the recommendations issued on phytosanitary practices and post-harvest treatment of cocoa. This non-compliance with the standards of good practices prescribed is particularly more accentuated in the locality located in infiltrated classified zone. It would, therefore, be judicious to revise or redefine the phytosanitary recommendations and carry out sensitization and training-follow-up programs for producers in this important cocoa production area of C?te d’Ivoire.

Influence of Harvest Periods on Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Agronomic Traits and Physiological Response to Post-Harvest Physiological Deterioration

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the third largest source of calories in tropical countries and the sixth most important food crop in the World. However, the short shelf life of its storage roots after harvest due to a rapid post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD) makes the roots to be considered as a risky product to market. The objectives of this work were to investigate the influence of two harvest periods on cassava agronomic parameters and their physiological response to PPD. Three cassava cultivars 96/1414, I070593 and LMR were selected for the experiment and harvested at 10 and 12 months after planting (MAP). The response to PPD was assessed during storage at 0, 3, 8 and 15 days after harvest (DAH). Total proteins content, soluble sugars and starch, total polyphenols compounds, polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase activities were recorded during storage. Results showed large variation among the parameters at the two harvest periods across the cultivars. High number of tubers was recorded in all the cultivars at 12 MAP and a significant increase in storage roots length was observed in 96/1414 and LMR from 10 MAP to 12 MAP (25 ± 5.1 to 41.3 ± 5.9 and 22.6 ± 3.3 to 27.9 ± 4.8) respectively. A reduction of about 49% of tubers weight was observed in I070593 from 10 to 12 MAP while an increase of about 36% and 11% were recorded in LMR and 96/1414 respectively. Tubers from I070593 showed less susceptibility to PPD when harvested at 10 MAP compared to those from LMR and 96/1414 where less susceptibility to PPD were recorded at 12 MAP. An increase in soluble sugars content, total proteins content and peroxidase activity subsequently to a decrease in starch content were recorded during storage from 8 to 15 days after harvest especially at 10 MAP in I070593 and at 12 MAP in LMR and 96/1414. High content of total phenolic compounds and less activity of polyphenol oxidase were correlated to PPD susceptibility. This work opens a new insight issue of the consideration of the appropriate harvest time of the cultivars as a tool to better control the onset of postharvest physiological deterioration.

Farmers’ Practices for the Orchard’s Maintenance and Post-Harvest Treatment of Cocoa in Infiltrated Classified and Unclassified Zone of Méagui (South-West, Côte d’Ivoire)

An important part of Ivorian cocoa production comes from infiltrated classified forests. The objective of this study is to investigate orchard maintenance and post-harvest cocoa treatment practices used by cocoa farmers in infiltrated classified and unclassified areas of Méagui. To do this, 110 producers in two localities of the said zone were individually interviewed from February to April 2022, using a declarative questionnaire. It was found that cocoa orchards in the zone are aging. Nearly 68.55% of producers were heirs and 58.33% of those interviewed were under 46 years of age, with an average age of 43 years. Nearly 84.55% of the producers surveyed mainly use chemical insecticides to control the pests of greatest concern in these localities. Regarding the frequency of insecticide treatments, 11.82% of producers make 1 to 2 applications a year, 29.09% make 3 to 5 applications a year, and 43.64% make at least 6 applications a year. The active substances of the most used products belong to 99% of the Neonicotinoid and Pyrethroid families. Regarding cocoa harvesting and post-harvest operations, 93.64% of the producers carry out a single harvest/month;all do the shelling with mini machetes. Beans are fermented mainly in black plastic tarpaulins or in bags, for a period of 3 to 5 days (65.45%). Drying is done almost entirely (91.82%) on the black plastic tarp. This study shows that cocoa farmers in the areas surveyed do not respect the recommendations issued on phytosanitary practices and post-harvest treatment of cocoa. This non-compliance with the standards of good practices prescribed is particularly more accentuated in the locality located in infiltrated classified zone. It would, therefore, be judicious to revise or redefine the phytosanitary recommendations and carry out sensitization and training-follow-up programs for producers in this important cocoa production area of C?te d’Ivoire.

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Controlling Grain Aroma along Value Chain of Fragrant Rice:A Review

The aroma of fragrant rice is one of the grain quality attributes that significantly influenceconsumer preferences and prices in world markets. The volatile compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) isrecognized as a key component of the aroma in fragrant rice. The variation in grain 2AP content amongvarious fragrant rice varieties is associated with the expression of the badh2 gene, with 19 alleles havingbeen identified so far. The grain 2AP content is strongly influenced by environmental and managementfactors during cultivation as well as post-harvest conditions. This review pinpointed the major abiotic andbiotic factors that control grain 2AP content. Abiotic factors refer to water, temperature, light quality,fertilizer application (both macro- and micro-nutrients), and soil properties, including salinity, while bioticfactors include microorganisms that produce aromatic compounds, thus influencing the grain aroma infragrant rice. Post-harvest management, including storage and drying conditions, can significantly impactthe grain 2AP content, and proper post-harvest conditions can intensify the grain aroma. This reviewsuggests that there are rice varieties that can serve as potential sources of genetic material for breedingrice varieties with high grain aroma content. It offers an overview of recent research on the major factorsaffecting the aroma content in fragrant rice. This knowledge will facilitate further research on theproduction of high-quality rice to meet the demands of farmers and consumers.

Rice Drying,Storage and Processing:Effects of Post-Harvest Operations on Grain Quality

Various post-harvest processes of rice are commonly employed,especially during the off-season,to ensure its consumption feasibility,which often affect the grain quality.Different forms of drying,storage and processing of rice are evaluated to identify their effects on grain quality.Microwave drying has emerged as an alternative to the widely-used intermittent-drying and fixed-bed-dryer methods of drying paddy rice.Control of drying-air temperatures(between 40℃ and 60℃)according to the rice variety can improve quality,especially for exotic varieties.Keeping stored grain in hygroscopic balance,with water content between 11%to 15%,at temperatures between 16℃ and 20℃ and with intergranular relative humidity near 60%,allows 12 months of storage in a controlled environment without significant deterioration.Other innovations,notably the application of artificial refrigeration to grain stored in bulk in vertical cylindrical silos and the use of impermeable packaging for storage,ensure the conservation of grain mass.The different stages and equipments used to obtain polished,brown and parboiled rice result in significant changes in the nutritional value of rice because of the removal of the outermost layers of the grains.Polishing reduces the nutritional value and physical homogeneity of rice.Brown rice retains more bioactive compounds and nutrients because it does not lose the outer layer of the grains in the polishing processes.Parboiled rice,although less nutritious than brown rice,has better grain integrity and milling yield and less loss of nutrients than white rice.

Difference in corn kernel moisture content between pre-and post-harvest

The harvest method of shelling corn(Zea mays L.)kernels in the field decreases labor costs associated with transporting,drying and threshing the crop.However,it was previously found that the kernel moisture content increased after field harvest,which decreased the value of corn kernels.To identify the reasons underlying the increase,we conducted a multiyear and-area trial in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain,China and performed a staged-harvest test at several phases of kernel dry-down.The test investigated a range of parameters such as the kernel moisture content pre-and post-harvest,the kernel breakage rate,the amount of impurities,and the moisture content of various other plant tissues.An analysis of 411 pairs of pre-and post-harvest samples found that kernel moisture content after harvest was 2.2%higher than that before harvest.In the staged-harvest test,however,a significant increase was only observed when the kernel moisture content before harvest was higher than 23.9%.The increase in post-harvest kernel moisture content was positively associated with the pre-harvest kernel moisture content,breakage rate and impurity rate.Typically,at harvest time in this region,there is a significant fraction of immature crops with a high moisture content,resulting in kernels that are prone to breakage or impurities that ultimately lead to increases in water content after harvest.Therefore,we suggest using hybrids that quickly wither late in the growing stage.Additionally,farmers should delay harvest in order to minimize the pre-harvest kernel moisture content and thus reduce breakages and impurities,thereby improving the quality of kernels after harvest and the efficiency of corn kernel farming in China.

Cannabis Indoor Growing Conditions, Management Practices, and Post-Harvest Treatment: A Review

Cannabis has attracted a new wave of research attention as an herbal medicine. To deliver compliant, uniform, and safe cannabis medicine, growers should optimize growing environments on a site-specific basis. Considering that environmental factors are interconnected, changes in a factor prompts adjustment of other factors. This paper reviews existing work that considers indoor growing conditions (light, temperature, CO2 concentration, humidity, growing media, and nutrient supply), management practices (irrigation, fertilization, pruning & training, and harvest timing), and post-harvest treatment (drying and storage) for cannabis indoor production.

Effect of Post-Harvest Handling and Ripening Methods on Quality and Shelf-Life of Banana

Banana (Musa spp.) is a highly perishable fruit that requires special handling. In Eritrea, post-harvest handling practices are characterized to be poor and as a result, poor fruit quality and high post-harvest loss are common. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different post-harvest handling and ripening methods on quality and shelf-life of banana. A Complete Randomized Design (CRD) was used for evaluating a combination of two levels of post-harvest handling and four ripening methods in a factorial combination conducted in the laboratory of Horticulture at Hamelmalo Agricultural College. Peel colour change, physiological weight loss, pulp to peel ratio, total soluble solids (TSS), pulp pH, ripening period and shelf life were parameters studied. The results showed fruits treated with ripened tomato showed improved characteristics in all parameters compared to those treated with smoke from kerosene burning or mixed with moringa leaf. Similarly, fruits brought directly from the farm were better than those collected from the ripening room after passing the conventional post-harvest handling. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that ripening of banana with the help of tomato improves fruit quality and shelf life. Thus, it can be a safe and better alternative to smoking from kerosene burning. While moringa leaf has no potential as an alternative.

Identification of Post-Harvest Operations Related to the Contamination of <i>Arachis hypogaea</i>L. (Groundnut) by Mycotoxins in the Province of Mayo Kebbi Ouest in the Republic of Chad

Good practice in post-harvest operations depends on the contamination of groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) by mycotoxins. The objective of this study is to identify farmers’ practices that pose a risk to the post-harvest preservation of the fruits of Arachis hypogaea in the province of Mayo Kebbi Ouest. Data collection was carried out using a farmer survey sheet based on a questionnaire on drying and storage techniques and losses related to groundnut harvesting. The study revealed that the fruits of Arachis hypogaea are dried on the fields and stored in shells or pods in polyethylene bags. The latter can be kept for up to 6 months in the shop (44%), in the attic (25.3%), in living quarters (18.7%) and both in the attic and in houses (12%). The level of post-harvest losses is due on the one hand to post-harvest diseases (60%) and the presence of insects on the crops (32%) and on the other hand to the germination of seeds (8%) after the harvest due to heavy rains. This loss on a scale of 2% to 10% is 74.7% and 10% to 50% is 25.3%. Drying and storage techniques in these localities represent a risk of mycotoxin contamination of groundnuts. Raising farmers’ awareness of harvest management techniques to preserve the sanitary quality of groundnuts would be important.

Influence of Post-Harvest Storage Technologies on Weight and Rate Losses and Sensory Profile of Cola Nuts (<i>Cola nitida</i>) Produced in Côte d’Ivoire

The conservation of cola nuts (Cola nitida) poses a real problem in C&ocirc;te d’Ivoire because of the post-harvest losses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of post-harvest technologies on organoleptic and physical properties of cola nut during storage. A biopesticide, glucose syrup and biopesticide + glucose syrup were applied to fresh cola nuts before conditioning and kept at 28&deg;C for 6 weeks. Physicochemical and sensory analyses were performed to check the quality of the nuts during storage. The results showed that the biopesticide keep cola nuts better than the others methods with only 11.66% ± 3.04% and 13.66% ± 3.95% of loss rates for white and red cola nuts respectively. Cola nuts treated with bio-pesticide retain significantly their freshness with 62.00% ± 1.15% of moisture for white nuts and 64.00% ± 2.00% of moisture for red nuts compared to those treated with glucose syrup and bio-pesticide + glucose syrup (56.66% ± 1.15%). Cola nuts treated with biopesticide have a better acceptability compared to those subjected to others treatments. The use of biopesticide for the storage of cola nuts minimizes the losses and maintains the quality whatever the type of cola.

Microbial Biocontrol of Post-harvest Fungal Rot in Apples:Current State of the Science

Our study consists of a careful literature review carried out with the aim of better understanding the models developed in the field of biocontrol of postharvest fungal rot in apples(PHFRA)over the past two decades.It aims,more specifically,to shed light on the progress made by examining the products developed,their nature,their target pathogens,their effectiveness,theirs modes of action and the stage of their development.The post-harvest biocontrol of apples has made remarkable progress during the last twenty years of research.Several products(yeasts,bacteria,filamentous fungi and actinomycetes)have been selected.Some,are already marketed,others are at different stages of development.However,several points limit the optimal use of microbial antagonists in the bio-management of post-harvest apple rots as an alternative to chemicals.It is,in fact,still necessary to develop appropriate formulations of these microbial biocontrol agents,to better study their mechanisms of action,to test them under commercial conditions and against a broad spectrum of pathogens and hosts.However,although sometimes considered less effective than chemical treatments,biocontrol products based on microorganisms have major advantages for an application in an integrated post-harvest apple protection strategy.

Does fishing venture matter for reducing post-harvest loss?Empirical evidence from Bangladesh

The study was conducted to estimate the post-harvest loss(PHL)of inland capture fisheries in Bangladesh based on the fishing venture i.e.,sole proprietorship,partnership and cooperatives using Questionnaire Loss Assessment Method(QLAM).A total of 1339 fishermen were selected using stratified random sampling where 792,485,and 62 were involved in the sole proprietorship,partnership,and cooperatives types of fishing venture respectively.The data were collected from thirty-nine districts across six divisions through the direct interview method covering 92 fish species.The results indicated that Ashar(June-July)to Agrahayon(November-December)was the peak fishing period for every fishing venture.The study revealed that the high volumes of fishes were caught from haor for partnership and cooperatives while river was for sole proprietorship.The study accounted lower PHL for cooperatives than that of sole proprietorship and partnership and found significance differences among them from Tukey’s pairwise test.The estimated PHL was higher for Puti(Puntius chola)in sole proprietorship and partnership whereas Tengra(Gagata cenia)in cooperatives venture.The study suggests to expand the cooperatives fishing ventures widely in Bangladesh where the predominant factors(i.e.,longer harvesting duration,delaying in marketing the fishes and temperature,excess supply,and etc.)of causing PHL in this venture should be taken under consideration.

Mathematical Modeling of Drying in a New Concept of Silo-Dryer-Aerator and the Quality of Soybean Seeds (Glycine max (L.) Merrill)

The aim of this study was to model and validate a new concept of a silo-dryer-aerator for the drying of soybean seeds and determine the quality of the seeds in function of the air temperatures in the drying. Soybeans with water contents of 17%(w.b.) were dried and stored in a silo-dryer-aerator system that was designed with a drying chamber and four independent storage cells in the air drying temperatures at 30, 40 and 50℃ in silo-dryer-aerator. The drying in the air temperature at 30℃ in the cell C1 the diffusion approximation model was the one that best fit the data, in the cell C2 the Newton model prevailed and in the cells C3 and C4 the Midilli model. In the drying with air temperature of 40℃ in the cell C1 the Page model was the one that better adjusted the data, whereas in the cell C2 the model of diffusion approximation determined the best fit, while in the cells C3 and C4 the Page model obtained better fit. In the drying with air temperature of 50℃ in the cells C1, C2, C3 and C4 the logarithm model was the one that best represented the fit of the data. The increase in the drying air temperature to 50 °C decreased the quality of soybeans seeds. In the upper and middle part of the cells there was an increase in electrical conductivity (140.02 μS/cm/g) and germination (53%) compared with the lower dryer position.

Development and Optimisation of Drying Parameters for Low-Cost Hybrid Solar Dryer Using Response Surface Method

After harvest and storage problems are major dilemma, which requires to be looked into carefully in developing nation like Nigeria. This paper presents a development of low-cost hybrid solar dryer for food preservation with the objective of setting optimum drying parameters for the preservation of cassava and tomato products. The work was carried out by designing, constructing and finally evaluating the hybrid dryer for effective performance. The optimization of the drying parameters was done using composite technique (Response surface method). The assessment of the dryer shows that 150 Kg cassava mesh and 5000 grams of tomato with 35% and 94% moisture content, respectively were dried to 100 Kg and 334 g with 10% moisture level for 4 hours and 11 hours respectively, for cassava and tomato. The optimization result shows that the dryer will perform optimally with drying temperature of 62°C and 48°C for cassava and tomato respectively with 24% and 91% moisture uptake. Therefore, sustainable techniques for preservation of food are essentially required. Hybrid solar dryer is an alternative to consider in the situation.

Effects of Chlorine Dioxide Gas on Postharvest Physiology and Storage Quality of Green Bell Pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.var.Longrum)

The effects of treatment of chlorine dioxide （C1Oz） gas on postharvest physiology and preservation quality of green bell peppers were studied. Green bell peppers were collected in bags and treated with 0, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg L^-1 ClO2 gas at 10±0.5℃ for over 40 d, and the changes in postharvest physiology and preservation quality of the peppers were evaluated during the storage. The inhibition of rot of the peppers was observed for all the tested ClO2 gas treatments. The rot rates of the treated samples were 50% lesser than those of the control after day 40 of storage. The highest inhibitory effect was obtained after 50 mg L^-1 ClO2 gas treatment, where the peppers did not decay until day 30 and showed only one-fourth of the rot rate of the control at day 40 of storage. The respiratory activity of the peppers was significantly （P〈0.05） inhibited by 20 and 50 mg L^-1 ClO2 treatments, whereas no significant effects on respiratory activity were observed with 5 and 10 mg L^-1 ClO2 treatments （P〉0.05）. Except for 50 mg L^-1 ClO2, malondialdenyde （MDA） contents in the peppers treated with 5, 10, or 20 mg L^-1 ClO2 were not significantly （P〉0.05） different from those in the control. Degradation of chlorophyll in the peppers was delayed by 5 mg L-1ClO2, but promoted by 10, 20, or 50 mg L^-1 ClO2. The vitamin C content, titratable acidity, and total soluble solids of the peppers treated by all the tested ClO2 gas did not significantly change during the storage. The results suggested that ClO2 gas treatment effectively delayed the postharvest physiological transformation of green peppers, inhibited decay and respiration, maintained some nutritional and sensory quality, and retarded MDA accumulation.

Factors in fluencing farmers' participation in crop intensification program in Rwanda

The crop intensification program（CIP）was introduced in Rwanda in 2007 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources（MINAGRI）,Rwanda,as a solution to the land fragmentation,low use of agricultural inputs and low access to extension services.However,due to the voluntary nature of farmers’participation and their reluctance to participate,this study aimed at assessing the factors that influence their participation.Data were collected from 340 respondents through a household survey in Mayange and Rusarabuye sectors.Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were used to analyze the data.Results show that the factors that significantly influenced the farmers’participation in the CIP include gender,non-farm income,farmland size,farming experience,land acquisition means,market access,trust and agro-ecological conditions.In fact,the non-farm income significantly increased the farmers’decisions to participate in the CIP（P〈0.001）as it eases the financial capital needed to invest in the CIP activities.On the land acquisition means,the farmers who inherited or bought the land positively and significantly participated in the CIP（P〈0.05）because they had the land tenure security.However,the participation in the CIP was hindered by inadequate irrigation and mechanization facilities,lack of farmers’participation in the CIP planning process,inadequate extension services,inadequate agricultural inputs and inadequate post-harvest technologies.Closer collaboration between farmers,local leaders,extension agents and agricultural service providers as well as the farmers’practical skills in irrigation and mechanization could enhance the participation to the program.Therefore,there is a need on the part of policymakers to empower farmers with adequate knowledge on better cropping practices and agricultural technologies through appropriate extension services and bottom-up based program.

Influence of Cold Storage on the Bioactivity Properties and the Quality of the Juice of Moro Blood Orange(Citrus sinensis(L.)Osbeck)

The possibility of commercialization of Moro blood oranges in tropical countries such as Brazil was evaluated to verify whether post-harvest management through storage at low temperatures for a period of 60 days can improve the bioactive properties and quality parameters. Moro blood oranges cultivated in Brazil did not contain significant amounts of anthocyanins at the time of harvesting, but these compounds were activated by post-harvest management through storage at low temperatures (4&deg;C and 8&deg;C) for a period of 60 days. The emergence of the anthocyanins in the juices occurred within a few weeks of storage, but the maximum levels were attained after 60 days and at the temperature of 8&deg;C. Cold storage positively influenced other bioactive compounds such as total phenolic compounds, individual phenolic compounds, β-carotene and the antioxidant activity determined by the sequestration of DPPH free radicals. It did not influence the vitamin C content. In addition, storage significantly altered the color, total acidity and pH of the fruits, but it did not prevent its commercial use. The remaining quality parameters were not influenced. It is possible to commercialize these oranges in Brazil through post-harvest management.

Nanotechnology-Based Advancements in Postharvest Management of Horticultural Crops

Horticulture is a branch of Agricultural science where it is defined as the science and art of cultivating and handling fruits,vegetables,ornamental plants and several plants having unique medicinal and aromatic values.Horticultural crops provide farmers with high income and have good export quality,but they have a concern about postharvest losses.Hence,increasing productivity and decreasing post-harvest losses by using scientific studies and techniques like biotechnology and nanotechnology could be the simplest possible solution to the above-mentioned problems.Using nanotechnology which is having the characteristics of nanoparticles is proven to be very useful in science and technological applications.Nanotechnology-based formulations increase the product quality and the shelf life of horticultural products and provide multiple ways of inhibiting the growth and development of microorganisms.It is precisely a new edible packaging coverage(film)that controls the exchange of gases and prevents damage from harmful rays such as ultraviolet radiation to a greater extent.Increasing strength by using nano biosensors for labeling products is considered a fundamental process to automated control of storage products.Postharvest rotting of vegetables is recognized to be an oxidative reaction and microbial deterioration as well.This review will address all such nanotechnology-based advancements for minimizing post-harvest losses of horticultural crops and enhancing the socio-economical progress of growers in particular.

Cultivation and Management Technologies for New Banana Cultivar ‘Refen 1’(Musa Spp. ABB,Pisang Awak Subgroup)

Banana is one of the most important crops in tropical and subtropical regions of China. Fenjiao( Musa Spp. ABB,Pisang Awak subgroup) has been grown by small scale famers because of its stable market price and better sugar-acid blend. However,the traditional Fenjiao variety is susceptible to banana Fusarium wilt,has a high plant height( over 5. 0 m),and farmers lack large-scale planting techniques.Based on the traditional Fenjiao variety,we selected‘Refen 1’variety through mutagenesis technology,which has low temperature resistance,suitable to marginal soils and relatively low plant height( 3. 2-4. 0 m). This paper mainly introduces the major techniques of propagation,cultivation,and post-harvest stages of‘Refen 1’banana,including the selection of explant materials,treatment,disinfection,initial culture,nursery hardening of in vitro-produced banana plants,and transplant of tissue culture seedlings. The major points of the cultivation technology include banana plantation selection and preparation,planting methods,irrigation and fertilizer management,pruning and retaining,and prevention and control of plant diseases and insect pests.

Reproductive Potential of Spermophagus niger (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae: Amblycerini) Developing on the Seeds of Two Roselle Varieties in Burkina Faso

In West Africa and particularly in Burkina Faso, Roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) is receiving increasing attention as a crop with potential for making great socio-economic impacts. The biology of Spermophagus niger, recently identified as the main insect pest in the storage of roselle seeds, is poorly known. The present study aimed at comparing the reproductive potential of this insect on the seeds of two roselle varieties Altissima and Sabdariffa, mainly grown in Burkina Faso to identify susceptible/resistant variety to the pest. The results obtained are the first complete data on life history traits of S. niger in laboratory conditions. Overall, they indicated that both seed varieties have similar susceptibility to S. niger. The main life history traits measured did not differ significantly on both varieties (P 】0.05). However, the first generation individuals from the Altissima seeds were significantly larger (P = 0.0007 and P 【0.0001 for males and females respectively) and weighed more (P 【0.0001) than those from the other roselle variety. This result suggests that individuals from the Altissima variety may have a higher seed-damaging potential than those developed in the Sabdariffa variety and this potential might increase over successive generations. The consequences of such findings are discussed with a view to improving the post-harvest storage of roselle seeds and reducing losses in West Africa.