Mycosphaerella leaf spot diseases of bananas - CBS

Session 1
D.R. Jones
The distribution and importance of
the Mycosphaerella leaf spot diseases
of banana
D. R. Jones
Abstract
The three main fungal leaf spot pathogens of banana are Mycosphaerella musicola, M. fijiensis and
M. eumusae.All result in serious economic damage to cultivars in the Cavendish subgroup grown
for local consumption and export. M. musicola was the first foliar pathogen to be identified as a
major problem. Its spread from the Southeast Asian/Pacific region, where it was established by the
1920s, to North and South America in the 1930s, resulted in widespread disruption to the export
trade. Since the 1960s, M. musicola has been steadily and largely replaced worldwide by M. fijiensis.
This pathogen is more damaging to Cavendish cultivars than M. musicola and attacks a wider range
of banana clones. It was first recognised in the Pacific region and has since become a major problem
in most banana-growing areas. The susceptibility of plantain and other subsistence banana types
is of special concern in Africa. By the late 1980s, reports in the scientific literature of records of
M. fijiensis and M. musicola in Asia led to some confusion as to the true distribution of the two
pathogens in this region. Many specimens collected in the region were identified as M. eumusae,
a new leaf spot pathogen of banana.This fungus was observed damaging Cavendish cultivars and
plantain. Most records for M. eumusae have been from Asia but the pathogen has also been found
on islands in the Indian Ocean and in West Africa. Because of the similarity of symptoms caused
by M. musicola, M. fijiensis and M. eumusae,itis proposed that the diseases caused by these three
fungi be known collectively as Mycosphaerella leaf spot diseases.
Resumen - Distribución e importancia de las enfermedades de las manchas foliares
causadas por Mycosphaerella en banano
Los tres principales patógenos fungosos de las manchas foliares del banano son Mycosphaerella
musicola, M. fijiensis y M. eumusae.Todos ellos producen serios daños económicos a los cultivares
en el subgrupo Cavendish cultivados para el consumo local y para la exportación. M. musicola fue
el primer patógeno foliar identificado como el principal problema en la región productora de bananos
de América Latina y el Caribe. Se propagó de la región de Sudeste asiático y el Pacífico, donde se
había establecido allá por la década de los 20, al Nuevo Mundo en la década de los 30, resultando
en una quiebra del comercio de exportación. Desde los años 60, M. musicola fue reemplazada firme
y extensamente en todo el mundo por M. fijiensis. Este patógeno es más dañino para los cultivares
Consultant in International Agriculture,Worcestershire, United Kingdom
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