EFFICACY OF FOUR BOTANICALS AND TWO CHEMICAL FUNGICIDES IN THE CONTROL OF CROWN ROT DISEASE OF BANANA (MUSA SPP. AAA) ‘MEDIUM CAVENDISH’

Botryodiplodia theobromae was isolated and identified as the main causative agent or pathogen involved in crown rot disease of bananas collected from Fremponso and Volta River Estate Limited of the Atiwa and Asuogyaman districts in the Eastern region of Ghana. Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus were isolated and identified as part of the crown rot organisms from infected crowns of bananas but these were non-pathogenic when inoculated into healthy matured crowns of green bananas.
Different concentrations of botanical and chemical fungicides were prepared and tested for their effectiveness on ‘Medium Cavendish’ banana inoculated with Botryodiplodia theobromae to find out which treatment best controls crown rot disease.
There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the effectiveness of these treatments in controlling the crown rot pathogen. ‘Medium Cavendish’ banana inoculated and treated with Moringa oleifera (leaf extract), Azadirachta indica (seed extract) and Cassia alata (leaf extract) developed the disease in day 3. ‘Medium Cavendish’ banana treated with Zingiber officinale (rhizome extract), Mancozeb and Shavit F71.5WP developed crown rot in days 5, 6 and 8 respectively.
Shavit F71.5WP at a concentration of 2.0 g/L and Mancozeb at a concentration of 7.0 g/L offered good protection against crown rot disease of banana. Zingiber officinale (rhizome extract) at a concentration of 66.67% w/v was the most effective of the botanicals tested against crown rot disease.
Shavit F71.5WP was superior to Mancozeb.

II All Africa Horticulture Congress

P. Kumah, E.O. Ampomah, N.S. Olympio, E. Moses

isolates, infected crowns, non-pathogenic, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Zingiber officinale, pathogenicity

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.1007.43