Articles
Incidence of crown rot disease of banana (Musa AAA) and pathogenicity of the causal organisms from the tropical forest eco-zone of Ghana
Article number
1348_11
Pages
75 – 82
Language
English
Abstract
Banana, an important dessert fruit is easily affected by crown rot.
In Ghana, it is the main postharvest disease caused by a complex of fungi which creates huge losses in the industry.
This study investigates the incidence of crown rot disease, pathogenicity and mode of infection of the causal organisms in banana-from forest ecological zones.
Crown rot diseased banana samples were collected from 8 districts and studied in a completely randomized design with 3 replications in the Plant Pathology laboratory of the Crops Research Institute (CRI), Kumasi, Ghana.
ANOVA was done on data collected using Statistix 9. Differences between means was at 95% level (P=0.05). Six fungi (Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium semitectum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus) were consistently isolated from all the forest eco-zone. B. theobromae was the most widespread and dominant.
Pathogenicity tests showed that B. theobromae, F. semitectum and C. gloeosporioides were the primary pathogens that significantly (P=0.05) caused crown rot disease singly and in different combinations. C. gloeosporioides alone, B. theobromae + C. gloeosporioides and B. theobromae + C. gloeosporioides + F. semitectum expressed 100% infection in 7 days.
Combination of B. theobromae and C. gloeosporioides was significantly (P=0.05) the most virulent and quickest in spreading rot down the pedicels (3.7 cm) within 8 days after inoculation. A. flavus, A. niger and A. terreus were, however, found to be opportunistic in the disease creation.
The forest eco-zone is rife with pathogenic crown rot fungi and must be considered in pre- and postharvest disease management programmes to reduce their spread and contamination which could devastate the banana industry in Ghana.
In Ghana, it is the main postharvest disease caused by a complex of fungi which creates huge losses in the industry.
This study investigates the incidence of crown rot disease, pathogenicity and mode of infection of the causal organisms in banana-from forest ecological zones.
Crown rot diseased banana samples were collected from 8 districts and studied in a completely randomized design with 3 replications in the Plant Pathology laboratory of the Crops Research Institute (CRI), Kumasi, Ghana.
ANOVA was done on data collected using Statistix 9. Differences between means was at 95% level (P=0.05). Six fungi (Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium semitectum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus) were consistently isolated from all the forest eco-zone. B. theobromae was the most widespread and dominant.
Pathogenicity tests showed that B. theobromae, F. semitectum and C. gloeosporioides were the primary pathogens that significantly (P=0.05) caused crown rot disease singly and in different combinations. C. gloeosporioides alone, B. theobromae + C. gloeosporioides and B. theobromae + C. gloeosporioides + F. semitectum expressed 100% infection in 7 days.
Combination of B. theobromae and C. gloeosporioides was significantly (P=0.05) the most virulent and quickest in spreading rot down the pedicels (3.7 cm) within 8 days after inoculation. A. flavus, A. niger and A. terreus were, however, found to be opportunistic in the disease creation.
The forest eco-zone is rife with pathogenic crown rot fungi and must be considered in pre- and postharvest disease management programmes to reduce their spread and contamination which could devastate the banana industry in Ghana.
Publication
Authors
P. Kumah, E.A. Odame, I.A. Idun, N.S. Olympio, E. Moses, L. Atuah
Keywords
inoculation, severity score, Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium semitectum, eco-zone
Groups involved
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Commission Banana
- Commission Cultivar Registration
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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