Banana Yellow sigatoka – Kisan Suvidha

Initially, appearance of pale yellow or greenish streaks parallel to the veins on the upper surface of the leaves
Then these streaks darken and become more or less elliptical brown spots.
Later on, the centre of these spots turns to light grey colour surrounded by yellow halo
The spots often coalesce to form large irregular patches of dried tissue
Rapid drying and defoliation of leaves are the characteristic features of this disease
Normally 15-18 leaves are necessary at the time of shooting for bunch development, but due to Sigatoka leaf spot it is difficult to maintain 15 leaves
In severe cases, immature bunches fail to fill out
The fingers of bunch in affected plants tend to remain undersized and angular but pulp starts ripening

This disease is caused by Mycospharella musicola
The conidiophores bear conidia. Which is obclavate and multiseptate
Perithecia are dark brown to black, erumpent, ostiolate
Asci are oblong, clavate. Ascopores are one septate, hyaline, obtuse-ellipsoid with upper cell slightly broader
The conidia of the fungus are carried by the wind, rain water and old dried infected leaves and they help to spread the disease
This disease is common on poor, badly drained soils and in shady areas
Closer spacing, heavy weed or grass
cover, frequent irrigations and failure to remove suckers that favour the build of the disease.

Removal and destruction of affected leaves.
Keep the banana field as weed free and remove the suckers timely.
Avoid planting at close spacing.
Provide proper drainage and avoid water logging in the fields which favour infection.

Spray Bordeaux mixture 1 percent + linseed oil 2 percent on the plants
Spray Copper oxychloride or zineb with gas oil or mobile oil or white oil
Spray 3 times with Carbendazim 0.1 per cent or Propicanozole 0.1 % or Mancozeb 0.25% or Calixin 0.1% and teepol (sticking agent) at 10-15 days interval, as the disease starting from the initial appearance of leaf specks on the lower side of the leaf.

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