- Widespread. Hawaii on Heliconia.Not recorded in Pacific island coountries.
- Major bacterial disease of Cavendish (AAA varieties) in commercial plantation; same bacterium that causes bugtok of plantains (ABB/BBB varieties). Different strains of moko exist, some soilborne, other insect transmitted.
- Sources of infection:
- If from soil: yellowing and wilting of leaves.
- If from insects: male flowers and flower stalks blacken and shrivel. Fruits infected with internal brown or grey rots; vascular tissues (producing creamy ooze) move throughout the plant causing leaf collapse and death.
- Spread: insects; water; suckers; on knives. Survival in soil up to 18 months, but possibly survival on weeds.
- Biosecurity: risk from unofficial introduction of diseased suckers for propagation, and trade in fruit. Official movement of germplasm should always follow the FAO/IPBGR Technical Guidelines.
- Biocontrol: none.
- Cultural control: most important recommendations for smallholders: (i) monitoring and cutting down and burying (in place) diseased plants as soon as seen; (ii) removal of unopened male flower buds (called 'de-budding') using forked stick; and (iii) decontaminating knives (bleach). Others: disease-free suckers for planting; do not plant near diseased plots (especially downwind); weed; bag flowers after emergence until fruit set (if bell removed); isolate diseased mats with trench; fallow or use legume cover crops. Selection from within diploid AA varieties have shown resistance.
- Chemical control: not a method to use.