Banana, one of the main fruits in our diet, is highly valued for its nutritional benefits, with every part of the plant being useful. However, banana cultivation faces various diseases that affect growth and yield, leading to economic losses for farmers. Understanding the diseases that affect bananas and methods to control them is crucial for sustainable farming.
1. Panama Wilt Disease
This soil-borne disease causes banana leaves to turn yellow and wilt suddenly. Green leaves droop around the stem, and the base of the plant develops cracks and emits a foul odor. Inside the rhizome, blackish-red streaks can be seen, and the roots start to rot. Nematode infestations are also common in wilt-affected areas.
Control Measures:
- Plant disease-free saplings.
- For infected plants, drench the soil around the roots with a 0.1% carbendazim solution.
- Before planting, apply 1 kg of Pseudomonas fluorescens per acre by mixing it with decomposed manure and spreading it in the soil.
- Treat the roots of banana saplings with clay slurry mixed with 10 grams of Pseudomonas before planting.
2. Sigatoka Leaf Spot Disease
This airborne disease causes yellow spots on banana leaves, which later develop brownish borders and turn gray in the center. The leaves start to dry from the tips, affecting the growth of banana clusters.
Control Measures:
- As soon as symptoms appear, spray a solution of 1 g carbendazim or 2 g mancozeb or 1 g copper oxychloride per liter of water.
- Alternatively, spraying 0.2% Pseudomonas solution can help manage the disease.
3. Erwinia Wilt (Bacterial Rot) Disease
Infected plants develop blackened, rotting stems and exude a sticky black substance from the rhizome.
Control Measures:
- Mix 0.5 g streptomycin and 2.5 g copper oxychloride per liter of water and apply this solution at the base of the stem, allowing it to flow downward.
4. Bunchy Top Disease
This viral disease is spread by aphids. Infected plants show dark green streaks and spots along the veins on both sides of the leaf. Leaves become stunted, and leaf edges turn pale and curl upward. The top of the plant forms a bunchy appearance, and growth is severely stunted.
Control Measures:
- Use disease-free saplings.
- Controlling aphids can prevent further spread; spray 1 ml of monocrotophos per liter of water to manage the aphid population.
5. Banana Bract Mosaic Disease
This disease is spread by sap-sucking pests like aphids and mealybugs. Affected plants show reddish streaks on the stem, and dark streaks appear on male flowers in a pattern resembling scratch marks. The fruits develop a dark green mosaic pattern.
Control Measures:
- Spray a solution of 1 ml of monocrotophos or metasystox per liter of water monthly to control the disease.
Dr. Gayathri Subbiah, Dr. Vimalarani, Dr. K. Velmurugan, Agricultural Science Center, Kattupakkam, Kanchipuram – 603 203.
