Bananas and Plantains

Bananas and plantains are major fruit crops in the tropics and subtropics and make a vital contribution to the economies of a number of countries. In the last 15 years substantial changes have occurred in banana production and trade policies, among them the increasing importance of Panama disease due to its serious impact on Cavendish cultivars, protected banana cultivation and the changes in production systems to facilitate fair, organic and sustainable cultivation. This book provides an accessible review of the scientific principles of banana production and related these to field practices. This revised and updated includes expanded coverage of world trade, organic and integrated cultivation, cultivation in greenhouses, pests and their management, new cultivars and their relation with disease resistance and market, and prospects for genetically modified bananas.