|
Sci Tech
Control of sigatoka disease in banana
Among the fungal diseases occurring in banana, sigatoka leaf spots are the most important. Initially the infected areas show small spots. These spots increase in size and gradually turn brown in colour. When the disease progresses these spots further increase in size, join with each other forming large dead areas on the leaf preventing photosynthetic functioning of the leaf.
Destruction of mature and functional leaves in large number leads to failure of bunches to fill out and ripen. Fruit set will be poor with reduced size, uneven ripening and angular shape having discoloured flesh.
Causal organism
There are two types. Yellow sigatoka disease of bananas is caused by Mycosphaerlla musicola and black sigatoka is caused M. fijiensis. The latter is more aggressive and fatal to banana cultivation.
Humid weather and high rainfall periods hasten the development and faster spread of the disease.
Soils with poor drainage and low fertility are more conducive for disease build up.
Disease management
The suckers brought for planting should be disease free. They should be dipped in a fungicide solution before planting.
Proper, wider spacing must be practised. Severely infected plants and leaf blades should be removed and destroyed.
The orchard must be clean and free from weeds and grasses to avoid humidity build up.
The land should be well drained and levelled to avoid any water stagnation. Periodical roughing of diseased leaves reduces the spread of the disease.
Application of Thiophante methyl 1 g/1 or bordeaux mixture 0.1 per cent + 2 per cent linseed oil or captan 2 g/l can manage the yellow sigatoka disease.
MALLIKARJUN. Y.
KENGANAL HEMAVATI RANEBENNUR
& BYADGI, A.S.
Department of Plant
Pathology,University of Agricultural Sciences
Dharwad
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Sci Tech
|
