Black Stigatoka Disease

                Black Sigatoka is a leaf spot disease of banana plants caused by ascomycete fungus Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Morelet). Plants with leaves damaged by the disease may have up to 50% lower yield of fruit. Black Sigatoka, also known as black leaf streak, was discovered in 1963 and named for its similarities with the Yellow Sigatoka, which is caused by Mycosphaerella musicola (Mulder. Black Sigatoka is a fungal disease that destroys banana leaves and can seriously reduce crop yield. It is very severe on Cavendish bananas, ladyfingers and several other dessert bananas.

 

Impact of banana diseases

A leaf spot disease is the most important of these problems. Black Sigatoka, which is also known as black leaf streak, causes significant reductions in leaf area, yield losses of 50% or more, and premature ripening, a serious defect in exported fruits. The islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines is in the process of eradicating the Black Stigatoka disease which has badly affected banana farms on the island. The economy of St Vincent and the Grenadines is based largely on agriculture, which contributed 10% of the GDP and 26% of the labour force. Banana one of there main crop, although its importance has declined significantly as more focus is being placed on roots and tubers, has seen further decline in the country as farmers are abondoning their crops as a result of the disease.

 

Control

Presently, a sterol biosynthesis inhibitor, tridemorph, several different sterol demethylation inhibitors, most importantly propiconazole, and the methoxyacrylate, azoxystrobin, are the most commonly used systemics.