Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides

Banana black Sigatoka (002)

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Photo 1. Reddish-brown and black streaks of black Sigatoka, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, on the upper surface of a leaf, with some developing white or tan centres where the spores are produced. Note that the spots have bright yellow haloes, or margins.

Photo 2. Long streaks with bright yellow margins typical of infection by black Sigatoka, Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Note the blighted areas at the leaf tip and margins where the spots have joined together to cause the blight.

Photo 3. Typical decay of a leaf infected with black Sigatoka, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, showing the brown streaks, some with white centres, and the edges of the leaf decaying before other parts where the streaks have joined together.

Summary
  • Worldwide distribution. A fungus causes early leaf death, starting from tips and margins. Low leaf number causes 35-50% loss of fruit yield. Spores spread in wind-blown rain.
  • Cultural control: plant in soils with good drainage, exposed to the sun and orientated to the wind so leaves dry quickly; 2.5 m spacing; weed; prune leaves when >50% infected; prune suckers, leaving 3-4 plants/matt; mulch; collect and remove infected leaves at harvest; for resistant (FHIA) varieties, contact SPC CePaCT.
  • Chemical control: protectants – copper, mancozeb, chlorothalonil, misting oil. Systemics – triazoles, strobilurins, alternating with protectants.
Common Name

Black Sigatoka, black leaf streak

Scientific Name

Mycosphaerella fijiensis. This the name of the sexual state; the asexual name is Paracercospora fijiensis (previously Pseudocercospora fijiensis).

Diagram. Life cycle of black Sigatoka, Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Note that there are two types of spores, but it is the sexual stage that produces the ascospores that are considered the most important in disease development. The spores are discharged from the top surface of the leaves and spread by wind.

AUTHORS Helen Tsatsia & Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2020) Mycosphaerella fijiensis (black Sigatoka). Crop Protection Compendium. (https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/35278); and from Black Sigatoka. Business Queensland. Queensland Government. (https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/crop-growing/priority-pest-disease/black-sigatoka); and (including Diagram) Bennett RS, Arneson PA (2003. Black Sigatoka of bananas and plantains. The Plant Health Instructor. APSnet Education Center. American Phytopathological Society. (https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disandpath/fungalasco/pdlessons/Pages/BlackSigatoka.aspx); and from Nelson S (2008) Black leaf streak of  banana. Cooperative Extension Service, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of  Hawai'i at Manoa. Photo 1 Kohler F, et al. (1997) Diseases of cultivated crops in Pacific Island countries. South Pacific Commission. Pirie Printers Pty Limited, Canberra, Australia.

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production , implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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