Colletotrichum musae
{{Short description|Species of fungus}}
{{Speciesbox
| image_alt = "Colletotrichum musae" forms the common black spots on ripe bananas
| image_caption = Colletotrichum musae forms the common black spots on ripe bananas
| genus = Colletotrichum
| species = musae
| authority = (Berk. & M.A.Curtis) Arx, (1957)
| synonyms =
| synonyms_ref =
}}
Colletotrichum musae is a plant pathogen primarily affecting the genus Musa, which includes bananas and plantains. It is best known as a cause of anthracnose (the black and brown spots) indicating ripeness on bananas.{{cite journal | pmc = 3819051 | pmid=24575184 | volume=20 | issue=2 | title=Characterisation of Colletotrichum species associated with anthracnose of banana | year=2009 | journal=Trop Life Sci Res | pages=119–25 | last1 = Zakaria | first1 = L | last2 = Sahak | first2 = S | last3 = Zakaria | first3 = M | last4 = Salleh | first4 = B}}
Symptoms
Symptoms appear as dark brown/black lesions on green fruit. On yellow fruit these lesions increase in size, orange fungal growth can be found in centre of lesions. Symptoms can also be found on the tips of fruit.{{Cite journal|last=|first=|date=2018|title=Plantwise Knowledge Bank {{!}} Anthracnose on banana|url=https://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/pmdg/20187800642|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626232316/https://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/pmdg/20187800642 |archive-date=2020-06-26 |access-date=2020-06-24|journal=Plantwiseplus Knowledge Bank|volume=Pest Management Decision Guides|doi=10.1079/pwkb.20187800642|s2cid=254012882|doi-access=free}} Symptoms also include premature ripening of fruit.
Management
The CABI-led programme, Plantwise recommend several methods to prevent the spread of the disease. These include; covering emerging fruit in plastic coverings and avoiding damage during harvest, removal of decaying parts and weeds of non-crop species to reduce favourable humid conditions for fungal infection.
Plantwise also recommends sufficient irrigation and draining of plantations to reduce unnecessary conditions which favour fungi.
Sources
{{Free-content attribution
| title = PMDG: Anthracnose on banana
| author = Plantwise
| publisher = CABI
| page numbers =
| source =
| documentURL = https://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/pmdg/20187800642
| license statement URL = https://www.cabi.org/terms-and-conditions/
| license = CC-BY-SA
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5147088}}
Category:Fungal plant pathogens and diseases