Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds

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Summary

• Worldwide distribution. On banana, and many other crops and ornamentals. A minor disease of banana.
• On mature plants before fruit ripens; leaves wilt, die, and hang around the stem. Internal smelly rot. Rhizome rots also occur after planting and, later, at the base causing plants to fall over.
• Spread when suckers trimmed, and soil bacteria splashed into 'throat' when young or into wounds.
• Cultural control: choose only healthy suckers; disinfect knives (bleach); use only well decomposed manures; remove diseased plants; improve drainage.
• Chemical control: not appropriate for this disease.