Fungal Disease (Pre & Post Harvest) – Speckle

Fungal Disease (Pre & Post Harvest) – Speckle:

Symptoms: 

Fungus Deightoniella torulosa causes 'Speckle disease' and the symptoms are minute reddish brown black spots surrounded by a green halo which develops at all stages of fruit maturity. The spots are 2 mm in diameter but may reach up to 4 mm as the fruit approaches harvesting. The fungus normally grows on the dead hanging leaves and spreads to fingers during rainy and windy weather.

Speckle disease in Banana - Initial stage on green leaf

Speckle disease in Banana - Mature stage on dead hanging leaf

Speckle disease on Banana fruit

    Control:  

• Removal of decaying leaf trash including transition leaves and bracts at regular intervals especially during rainy season. 
• Spray 0.05% Bavistin or 0.25% Kavach on weekly basis till bunch emergence and sleeving. 
•  Using Polythene bunch cover is found to be effective.