Effect of Time Delay on Management and Control of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt on Banana Production and Yield

Abstract: Banana is a main crop in the livelihoods of numerous people in the Great Lakes region of East and Central Africa. In Uganda, banana plants have been threatened by Banana Xanthomonas Wilt (BXW), which has spread at varying rates over the past two decades. The disease attacks all banana cultivars and may result in 100 % yield loss at the farm level if existing control measures are not improved. In this paper, we propose a mathematical model to study the effect of time delay on the management and control of BXW on banana production and yield. Differential equations are developed and analyzed for disease-free and endemic equilibria. The formula of Cardino was used to find the roots for the third polynomial expression. The next-generation matrix method was used to compute the reproductive number for control. The results revealed that increased time delay in controlling the BXW leads to low banana production. Yet timely control of Banana Xanthomonas Wilt improves banana yield.