THE INCIDENCE OF CROWN ROT OF BOXED BANANAS IN RELATION TO MICROBIAL POPULATIONS OF THE CROWN TISSUE

Abstract

During a period of 10 months, weekly samples were taken of rotted banana crowns to determine the microorganisms associated with rot. On a total of 648 crowns, Cephalosporium sp. occurred on 93%, Verticillium theobromae 81%, Fusarium roseum 'Gibbosum' 80%, F. moniliforme 14%, Botryodiplodia theobromae 12%, and Gloeosporium musarum 3%. Isolates of these organisms from green crowns, bracts, flowers, and petioles of the banana plant were able to rot crown segments in laboratory tests. Cephalosporium sp. has been shown for the first time to be capable of causing crown rot. Cultures of F. roseum from the air, grass, and Drosophila sp. were also pathogenic. A synergistic effect on rotting was demonstrated between F. roseum and bacteria isolated from crown tissue. Crown rot incidence fluctuated during the sample period, but this could not be correlated with changes in the occurrence of causal organisms present on the crowns.