No abstract

Anthracnose is a major postharvest disease of banana fruit in Côte d'Ivoire. Colletotrichum musae is usually associated with banana anthracnose disease. Persistent symptoms of anthracnose despite the postharvest treatment requires accurate characterization of pathogens for effective control. The present study was conducted to identify the species of Colletotrichum responsible for banana anthracnose and test their sensitivity to fungicides. The morphological study and molecular identification of isolated species associated with anthracnose symptoms had identified Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Colletotrichum musae. Pathogenicity tests with representative isolates were conducted on symptomless banana fruits. All tested isolates caused anthracnose lesions on banana fruit, however C. musae was significantly more aggressive than C. gloeosporioides. Sensitivity tests including imazalil, azoxystrobin and boscalid showed a sensitivity of C. musae and C. gloeosporioides to imazalil. However, a resistance of both species to azoxystrobin and boscalid was recorded. This study highlighted the presence of resistants strains of Colletotrichum responsible for anthracnose in Côte d'Ivoire.