Studies on the Sclerotium Disease of Bananas

Abstract

1. This paper deals with the results of the writer's investigations on the Sclerotium disease of bananas caused by Corticium centrifugum (LÉV.) BRES. Comparative studies of the causal fungus with five strains of the same fungus isolated from various plants were first carried out. The pathogenicity of the causal fungus, the effects of certain environmental factors on the growth of the causal fungus and the control method of this disease were also studied.
2. So far as the writer's experiment concerned, the causal fungus from bananas seems to be nearer to the strain isolated from the rocambole than the strain from the clover.
3. Under favourable conditions either the hyphae or the sclerotia of the causal fungus are capable of attacking the wounded or unwounded fruits of bananas.
4. The optimum temperature for the germination of the sclerotia of the causal fungus seems to lie in a wide range between 24° and 36°C. and they require the relative air-humidity higher than 97% for germination. According to the writer's experiment the air-humidity seemed to be a more important factor for the sclerotial germination than the air-temperature.
5. The optimum temperature for the mycelial growth of the causal fungus seems to lie at from 28° to 32°C. The growth is remarkably diminished at 20°C., and shown scarcely at ca. 11°C.
6. The control method of the disease in question may be as effective with the refrigerated transport by rapid cooling of ca. 11°C., as in the case of other diseases of the banana in transport.