Fungal Pathogens Associated with Banana Fruit in Sri Lanka, and their Treatment with Essential Oils

Abstract

The crown rot pathogens isolated from banana samples collected from 12 localities in Sri Lanka were Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium proliferatum and Colletotrichum musae. Fungal pathogens isolated were able to cause crown rot disease alone or in combination. Disease severity was higher when combinations of virulent pathogens were used. Cymbopogon nardus and Ocimum basilicum oils displayed fungicidal activity against C. musae and F. proliferatum between 0.2-0.6% (v/v) in a Poisoned food bioassay. Slightly lower concentrations of the test oils were needed for similar activity during liquid bioassays. The combination of Cymbopogon nardus and O. basilicum oils demonstrated synergistic action during both in-vivo bioassays.

Biological control of crown rot of bananas with Pichia anomala strain K and Candida oleophila strain O

“…This suggests that antagonism might occur between these three fungi. Anthony et al (2004) found that the severity of the disease was greater when the three fungi Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium proliferatum, and C. musae were inoculated in combination on the crowns, as compared to the severity of each fungus inoculated separately. This indicates that the disease severity is a function of its complex composition and existing interactions.…”

“…For example, the use of sodium bicarbonate incorporated into a wax coating with C. oleophila (2 Â 10 8 cfu/ ml) is a commercially acceptable alternative to chemicals for post-harvest control of anthracnose of papaya during storage (Gamagae et al, 2004). Biological control of post-harvest diseases of bananas with natural plant compounds (Anthony et al, 2004;Demerutis et al, in press;Ranasinghe et al, 2002Ranasinghe et al, , 2005Thangavelu et al, 2004), antioxidants (Khan et al, 2001), and inorganic salts alone (Alvindia et al, 2004) or in combination with surfactant (Alvindia and Natsuaki, 2007) has also been studied. The combination of such compounds with the yeast treatment could also enable an improvement of the biological control.…”

“…Mason Cladosporium sp., Cephalosporium sp., Penicillium sp., and Aspergillus sp. (Anthony et al, 2004;Greene and Goos, 1963;Griffee and Burden, 1976;Johanson and Blasquez, 1992;Lukezic et al, 1967;Marin et al, 1996;Ogundero, 1987;Shillingford, 1976;Wallbridge and Pinegar, 1975;Wallbridge, 1981). Although field infection cannot be excluded, contamination of the wounded crown occurs while hands are being harvested (Meredith, 1971).…”

Antifungal Activity of Croton aromaticus L. in vitro, Against Post-Harvest Fungal Pathogens Isolated from Tropical Fruits

“…Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) leaf, bark and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) oils have exhibited antifungal activity against crown rot and anthracnose pathogens of banana (Ranasinghe et al, 2002). Similarly Anthony et al, (2004) reported that the Ocimum basilicum and Cymbopogon nardus oils exhibited bioactivity against C. musae and Fusarium proliferatum both isolated from Embul variety banana. Ethanol, methanol and chloroform extracts of Piper sarmentosum leaves were found to be highly effective in inhibiting both mycelial growth and spore germination of C. gloeosporioides (Bussaman et al, 2012).…”

“…2012). Crown rot of banana (Musa) is caused by a complex of fungi including Fusarium proliferatum, L. theobromae, C. musae and Verticillium theobromae (Anthony et al, 2004).…”