Diseases of fruit plantation medicinal and aromatic crops (2+1)

Stem end rot of banana

Causal organism: Ceratocystis paradoxa (DADE)
Symptoms

• Brown or water soaked patches formed on the rhizome.
• The stalks decay rapidly, the tissues become soft and blackened and have a characteristic sweet smell.
• The fungal pathogen spreads to the fruit where it causes uneven black discoloration of the skin. The pulp is reduced to a dark brown soft wet mass and premature ripening of fruits.

Etiology

• Mycelium is hyaline or light brown, micro conidia are small and cylindrical.
• The conidiophores are slender and septate; macro conidia are produced on short lateral conidiophores; perithecia are light brown, where as ascosoores are ellipsoid.

Mode of spread and survival

• The fungus is both air and soil borne.

Epidemiology

• The black head disease is most commonly found on plants showing abnormally slow growth, particularly during dry weather.

Management

• Eradication of infected plants, planting healthy corms and protecting wounded or injured surfaces are the cultural practices recommended for its control.