Black sigatoka disease
Name(s):
Banana fungal disease
Black plague
Nature
Black Sigatoka disease is caused by a fungus [Mycosphaerella fijiensis] and affects bananas. The fungus spreads spores that infect and destroy banana and plantain leaves. The leaves turn brown, plant energy reserves are depleted, and fruit production is greatly reduced. A native variant of the plantain is resistant to the disease, but is not acceptable to consumers because it is round instead of banana-shaped. Aerially sprayed fungicides can protect against the disease, but are too expensive for small-scale farmers.
Background
Black Sigatoka disease was first detected in Honduras in 1972. It then spread rapidly throughout Central America, Mexico, and North and South America.
Incidence
Within 4 years in the 1980's, there was an 80% drop in plantain banana production in Costa Rica due to Black Sigatoka disease, which reduced the plantain crop from 26,000 to 5000 tonnes.
Broader
Type
(G) Very specific problems