Objective The main objectives are as follows :* To determine the impacts of AM fungi on the in vitro cultivation systems of banana and plantain, their subsequent effects on the acclimatization phase of the plantlets in the nursery and their performance under field conditions.* To assess the effects of AM fungi on the alleviating of major soil constraints: mineral deficiencies or toxicities and root parasitism.* To develop AM fungal inoculum production and application strategies consistent with current banana and plantain production systems.Expected OutcomeA successful association of in vitro produced AM fungi with micropropagated bananas and plantains is foreseen. A faster plantgrowth is expected during the acclimatization of the young plantlets in the nursery and hopefully a reduction in the use of chemicals. Increasing the mineral uptake rate in nutrientdepleted acid soils and the plant tolerance to root parasites concerns both extensive and intensive cropping systems. Information on the interest and effects of AM fungi inoculation programs for bananas and plantains should be improved.The key activities envisaged are :* Establishment of a collection of AM Fungi originating from banana and plantain fields in distinct soils conditions in Colombia, Cuba, the French West Indies and Cameroon: Andosols, Ferralsols, Acrisols, Vertisols.* Improvement of monoxenic inoculum technologies of AM fungi.* Determination of the AM fungi formulation and inoculation procedures for its implementation in micropropagated banana and plantain production systems.* Determination of the effects of AM fungi on banana and plantain growth under abiotic stress (nutrient depletion and mineral toxicities) using nutrient flow condition.* Assessment of the interactions between mycorrhized bananas and plantains and their main root parasites : the fungi Cylindrocladium spp. and Fusariumoxysporum var. cubense and the nematodes Radopholus similis, Pratylenchus goodeyi, Pratylenchus coffeae, Helicotylenchus multicinctus and Meloidogynespp.* Study of the field performance of mycorrhized bananas and plantains under current production systems. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactions Programme(s) FP4-INCO - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of cooperation with third countries and international organizations, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 03010204 - Crop production Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN EU contribution No data Address 2/10,Place Croix du Sud 2 1348 LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE Belgium See on map Total cost No data Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRE DE COOPERATION INTERNATIONALE EN RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT - CIRAD France EU contribution No data Address 2477,Avenue du Val Montferrand 2477 34032 MONTPELLIER See on map Total cost No data Centre de Recherches Régionales sur Bananiers et Plantains Cameroon EU contribution No data Address 30 Douala See on map Total cost No data INSTITUTO DE ECOLOGIA Y SISTEMATICA Cuba EU contribution No data Address S/N,Carretera de Varona Km 3.5 S/N Capdevila - Boyero 10800 LA HABANA See on map Total cost No data Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias Spain EU contribution No data Address 38200 La Laguna - Tenerife See on map Total cost No data Instituto Nacional de Investigacionesen Viandas Tropicales Cuba EU contribution No data Address 53000 Villadura See on map Total cost No data Instituto de Investigaciones de Sanidad Vegetal Cuba EU contribution No data Address 514,Calle 110 10100 Habana See on map Total cost No data Instituto de Recerca I Tecnologia Agroalimentaries Spain EU contribution No data Address S/N,Ctra. de Cabrils S/N 08348 Barcelona See on map Total cost No data Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Belgium EU contribution No data Address 92,Kardinaal Mercierlaan 92 3001 Heverlee See on map Total cost No data National Coffee Research Centre Colombia EU contribution No data Address 20 ChinChina - Caldas See on map Total cost No data
