In the present study, the relationship between the in banana by Colletotrichum musae and fruit peel pH was investigated. The results of a survey showed that anthracnose In contrast, the highest susceptibility to anthracnose was Variations of the pH of fruit peel exudates (FPE) of different banana cultivars were monitored during the ripening stages. The effects of FPE, collected from different banana cultivars at two maturity stages, on germ tube formation and elongation and appressoria development of C. musae were also determined. Furthermore, the effects of culture medium pH on the growth of C. musae, anthracnose development and the expression of a pelB were determined. With ripening the pH of FPE and fruit pulp decreased. The highest pH of FPE stage, pulp of all cultivars had pH values less than 4.5 with the lowest being 3.9 in Embul. When grown in culture media C. musae was observed at 4.5, indicating that an exogenous pH of 4.5 can favour colonization by C. musae. The expression of pel C. musae grown in a culture medium having a pH of 4.5. In addition, soluble factor responsible for the variation in anthracnose development among different banana cultivars, and its effects on germ tube formation, elongation and appressoria formation are discussed. fruit peel exudates, germ tube, pelB