Introduction. Black Leaf Streak Disease(BLSD) is the most important foliar disease affecting banana productionworldwide. A forecasting system has been developed and implementedin various countries aiming at optimal control of BLSD through minimumapplications of fungicide. In Dominican Republic, favorable dryclimatic conditions contrast with serious organizational issuesfor BLSD control. Our objective was to evaluate the adaptation ofthis forecasting strategy in these specific conditions. Materialsand methods. Fungicide resistance analyses were carried outin the northwestern region of Dominican Republic, in order to determinethe appropriate spectrum of systemic fungicides for the forecastingstrategy. Three field experiments were set up on commercial farmswhere disease evolution was monitored every week, on reference plots,in order to decide the pertinence of fungicide applications. Results. Fungicideresistance to QoI fungicides and strong sensitivity reduction toDMI (Demethylation Inhibitor) fungicides were detected in all farms.In spite of these limitations in the use of some fungicide groups, diseasecontrol was achieved with a limited number of fungicide applications(6–9), as compared with 13–26 applications in most commercial farmsof Dominican Republic over the same period. Discussion.The calculation of an indicator of the efficiency of the chemicalcontrol confirmed the potential of the forecasting strategy, underlining theinfluence of crop management as well as the neighboring environmentof the farms on its efficiency. The requirements for further generalizationof this system to commercial farms of this country are discussed.

Introduction. Many fruit trees with ahard seed coat exhibit seed dormancy, posing problems for theirregeneration. Vitex doniana, an indigenous multipurposebut threatened fruit and vegetable tree that supports the livelihoodsof many households in West Africa, is a typical example. Materialsand methods. In our research, we evaluated five dormancy-breakingtreatments. We tested the effects of sulphuric acid at 95% concentration(T1); 3 d sun-drying + 48 h soaking in tap water (T2); 3 d alternationof 8 h sun-drying + 1 h soaking in tap water (T3); 2 weeks sun-dryingwith regular watering in the daytime (T4); and physical shock (T5).These treatments were compared with two controls (T0 and Tc), withseeds from two different sources. The germination percentage, meangermination time, time to first germination and time to thresholdgermination (20%) were compared; the seedling height, diameter and biomassproduced were monitored for 15 weeks. We used generalised linear modelsand correlation tests to compare the effects of the various treatmentson germination and seedling growth. Results and discussion.T3 significantly enhanced seed germination in V. doniana (72%after 12 months). T4 best promoted homogeneity in germination (p < 0.01),followed by T3. The best seedling growth was obtained with T4 andT3. Alternation of sun-drying followed by soaking of seeds, a techniquewith almost no cost, improved seed germination in V. doniana and,in 33 d, just over 1 month, 20% germination can be achieved. Vitex doniana isa fast-growing species (at the nursery stage), in contrast to thecommon opinion. Conclusion. Our method should be further investigatedto assess the adequate soaking and drying length so as to speedup germination and reach homogenous cohorts.

Introduction. L’anacardier (Anacardium occidentaleL.) est surtout cultivé pour la production de l’amande ou noix de cajou mais aussi pour lepseudofruit. Les insectes nuisibles à cette plante ont été étudiés au Pérou où celui-ciest consommé. Matériel et méthodes. Des prélèvements ont été réalisés de 1998à 2005 dans différentes localités du département de Loreto en Amazonie péruvienne afind’identifier les insectes ravageurs de l’anarcadier. Des observations de terrain et desélevages au laboratoire ont permis de caractériser leurs dégâts et des éléments de labio-écologie pour chacun de ces insectes. Résultats. Sept espèces d’insectesont été identifiées, qui commettent des dommages notables : cinq espèces s’attaquent aupseudofruit : Acanthocephala parensis (Hemiptera : Coreidae),Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera : Tephritidae),Conotrachelus sp. (Coleoptera : Curculionidae), Trigonaamalthea et T. amazonensis (Hymenoptera : Apidae). L’espèceAphis gossypii (Hemiptera : Aphididae) infeste l’inflorescence ainsique le fruit. Les larves de Macrocopturus cf. tristis(Coleoptera : Curculionidae) se développent dans les bourgeons et les jeunes rameaux.Trois espèces parmi celles qui ont été identifiées sont de nouveaux ravageurs quin’avaient pas été encore signalés. Sept espèces d’importance secondaire ont également étéobservées. Conclusion. Compte-tenu du potentiel que représente la productionde pomme cajou et du développement possible de la culture de l’anacardier en Amazoniepéruvienne, une étude plus approfondie des insectes nuisibles à cette production estsouhaitable.

Introduction. Elaeagnus latifolia Linn. is a type of wildedible fruit found in northeast India, Thailand and also in Vietnam. Although the fruit isreported to be a source of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and other bioactivecompounds, only a few studies have been concerned with the antioxidant activity of thisplant. Materials and methods. Our study revealed in vitroantioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of 70% methanolic extract ofElaeagnus latifolia Linn. (ELME). Various tests includingidentification and quantification of phytochemicals, total antioxidant activity, hydroxylradical, superoxide radical, singlet oxygen, hypochlorous acid scavenging, reducing powerand DNA protection assays were performed. Results and discussion. Among thetests, ELME scavenged superoxide radical [IC50 = (150.78 ± 4.2) μg×mL–1], hydroxyl radical[IC50 = (238.09 ± 11.63) μg×mL–1] and protected pUC18 DNA [P50 = (695.91± 15.84) μg×mL–1]; P50 signifies the concentration for 50% protection . The fruit is foundto be a source of minute amounts of carbohydrates, ascorbic acid, tannins, phenolics andflavonoids. HPLC data showed that purpurin, tannic acid, quercetin, catechin, reserpineand rutin are present in ELME. Conclusion. Our results provide evidence that70% methanol extract of E. latifolia Linn. acts as a promisingantioxidant as well as DNA protector, which is partly due to the phenolic and flavonoidcompounds present in it.

Introduction. The genus Phoenix has 13 species. Dates fromP. dactylifera and P. theophrasti are the only onesthat have been characterised so far. The aim of our study was to evaluate thephysico-chemical and functional characteristics of date fruits in the Khalal and Rutabstages of P. loureiroi, P. canariensis,P. reclinata and P. roebelenii, and compare them withP. dactylifera. Materials and methods. Two samples of15 date fruits in the Khalal stage and another 15 date fruits in the Rutab stage werechosen from each species for analyses and quality parameters. Results anddiscussion. Significant differences in the measured parameters were observedamong the different species. Dates of P. dactylifera were larger thanthose of the other species and had the lowest [seed weight/fruit weight] proportion. Inthe Khalal stage, dates from P. canariensis and P. dactyliferawere yellow, P. loureiroi and P. reclinata weredark yellow to orange, and those of P. roebelenii were brown purple.Dates of P. dactylifera (Rutab stage) showed higher sugar and lowerorganic acid contents than those of the other dates. Dates ofP. reclinata, P. roebelenii andP. canariensis presented values of antioxidant activity and totalphenols in the Khalal stage that were very high compared with those ofP. dactylifera. These species are used as ornamental palms but theirfruits are consumed locally as food. These dates presented high nutritional quality andcan be used as novel foods for different purposes, such as snacks or food fortification,especially due to their high value in functional properties.

Introduction. Chlordecone (CLD), an organochlorine formerly used to controlthe banana black weevil, is strongly adsorbed on soils, particularly on andosols. Asimplified analytical procedure for the quantitative determination of chlordecone residuesin water and micro-samples of soil and plants was compared with a standard method.Materials and methods. The procedure combines a simplified samplingprotocol and a 10-min solid phase microextraction (SPME), followed by gas chromatographicseparation (GC) and mass spectrometric (MS and MS/MS) identification. Quantitation of CLDused a standard addition method with zero extrapolation. First, seventy samples wereanalysed using the proposed method and the standard method based on hot solventextraction. Second, fifteen soil samples were analysed with two SPME methods followed byGC-MS but using CLD labelled with C13 as an internal standard or the proposed method.Results and discussion. The detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) limitsof our SPME extraction procedure were determined for GC-MS and GC-MS/MS with water, plant(pineapple roots) and soil samples: in water for MS/MS, LODMS/MS-water = 0.5 ng×L–1,LOQMS/MS-water = 2.0 ng×L–1; in andosol for MS/MS, LODMS/MS-soil = 15.0 ng×kg–1 dw,LOQMS/MS-soil = 80.0 ng×kg–1 dw. Data from the seventy contaminated soils obtained withthe proposed method and the standard method showed a correlation coefficient of r = 0.86.Data obtained by the two SPME/GC-MS quantitation procedures showed a correlation of r =0.8073. Conclusion. The method proposes a simplified sample preparation andextraction of CLD in water, plant and soil samples, with no solvent manipulation and whichis not time-consuming. The LOD and LOQ were similar to those obtained with other currentlyused methods. The method is reliable and accurate and may be considered as a good tool forresearch purposes.