Yellow Sigatoka Research Articles

Yellow sigatoka epidemics caused by a panmictic population of Mycosphaerella musicola in Brazil

The genetic structure of Mycosphaerella musicola has never been investigated in Brazil to address epidemiologically related questions associated with yellow sigatoka. A total of 223 single‐conidium isolates from four regions (North, South, Zona da Mata and Triângulo Mineiro) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were used to assess the population genetic structure of M. musicola. Isolates were characterized regarding the frequency of the MAT1‐1‐1 or MAT1‐2‐1 idiomorphs and polymorphism at nine microsatellite loci. The mating‐type ratio in three of the four subpopulations was c. 1:1. A total of 87 alleles and 216 multilocus genotypes were identified. The overall population was in linkage equilibrium. Most (93.9%) genetic variation was detected within the subpopulations and there was weak differentiation between them. In total, eight genetic groups were detected and isolates of seven groups were present in all regions. The population of M. musicola in Minas Gerais seems to have high evolutionary potential: it is panmictic and both sexual reproduction and gene flow affect genetic variability. Strategies to avoid fungicide resistance should be enforced and breeding programmes need to consider quantitative resistance in the banana cultivars.

Infection process of Pseudocercospora musae on banana leaf

Yellow Sigatoka that is caused by Pseudocercospora musae is an important banana disease. The aim of this study was to elucidate the infection process of P. musae in banana leaves by scanning electron microscopy. Leaf samples were inoculated on the abaxial surface with P. musae and then analysed at 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 h post inoculation (hpi) and at 36 and 50 days post inoculation (dpi). The conidia were found to be germinated between 24 and 36 hpi and penetrated through the stomata between 96 and 120 hpi, or more generally from 144 hpi. P. musae colonized the spongy parenchyma at 36 dpi and the palisade parenchyma at 50 dpi. Sporulation occurred at 50 dpi on the adaxial surface of leaves through the emergence of conidia on conidiophores through the stomata. Considering the importance of yellow Sigatoka in banana production, our results provide a better understanding of the life cycle of the fungus for treatment processes.

English

The main control measure of Yellow Sigatoka (Pseudocercospora musae) in banana plants (Musa spp.) has been the planting of resistant varieties, and fungicide application. However, the use of adequately nourished plants is also emphasized as a complementary control method. This study evaluated the influence of interaction between potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) in nutrient solution on the severity of Yellow Sigatoka in banana. Evaluation included severity of disease, chlorophyll a and b contents, nutrient contents, and total dry weight (TDW). There was no interaction between concentrations of K and Ca for area under the disease severity progress curve (AUDSPC), although the AUDSPC increased in leaves 1 and 2 with increasing concentrations of K from 1 to 6 mmol L-1. Increasing K led to a reduction in chlorophyll a and b contents, and in nutrients N, P, Mg, B, Cu, Zn, and Mn. TDW increased with increasing K. Therefore, high concentration of K causes nutritional imbalance in banana plants, and favors the severity of Yellow Sigatoka.   Key words: Hydroponics, Musa spp., nutritional imbalance, Pseudocercospora musae.

A framework based on generalised linear mixed models for analysing pest and disease surveys

In several countries, regional surveys are carried out to detect the presence of pests and diseases in crops. During these surveys, the incidence of major diseases and the presence of pests are recorded on various dates during the growing season. In this study, we aim to develop a framework to make better use of these regional surveys to estimate pest and disease dynamics, to analyse their variability across sites and years, and to assess uncertainty. Our framework is illustrated in four case studies: Septoria leaf blotch on wheat, downy mildew on grapevine, yellow sigatoka on banana and weevils on sweet potato. We showed that frequentist and Bayesian generalised linear mixed models gave similar results. This type of models is flexible enough to handle different types of data. They can be used to estimate disease and pest dynamics from observations collected in regional surveys and could help regional extension services evaluate risk levels at the regional scale.

Comparative Genomics of the Sigatoka Disease Complex on Banana Suggests a Link between Parallel Evolutionary Changes in Pseudocercospora fijiensis and Pseudocercospora eumusae and Increased Virulence on the Banana Host.

The Sigatoka disease complex, caused by the closely-related Dothideomycete fungi Pseudocercospora musae (yellow sigatoka), Pseudocercospora eumusae (eumusae leaf spot), and Pseudocercospora fijiensis (black sigatoka), is currently the most devastating disease on banana worldwide. The three species emerged on bananas from a recent common ancestor and show clear differences in virulence, with P. eumusae and P. fijiensis considered the most aggressive. In order to understand the genomic modifications associated with shifts in the species virulence spectra after speciation, and to identify their pathogenic core that can be exploited in disease management programs, we have sequenced and analyzed the genomes of P. eumusae and P. musae and compared them with the available genome sequence of P. fijiensis. Comparative analysis of genome architectures revealed significant differences in genome size, mainly due to different rates of LTR retrotransposon proliferation. Still, gene counts remained relatively equal and in the range of other Dothideomycetes. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on a set of 46 conserved single-copy genes strongly supported an earlier evolutionary radiation of P. fijiensis from P. musae and P. eumusae. However, pairwise analyses of gene content indicated that the more virulent P. eumusae and P. fijiensis share complementary patterns of expansions and contractions in core gene families related to metabolism and enzymatic degradation of plant cell walls, suggesting that the evolution of virulence in these two pathogens has, to some extent, been facilitated by convergent changes in metabolic pathways associated with nutrient acquisition and assimilation. In spite of their common ancestry and shared host-specificity, the three species retain fairly dissimilar repertoires of effector proteins, suggesting that they likely evolved different strategies for manipulating the host immune system. Finally, 234 gene families, including seven putative effectors, were exclusively present in the three Sigatoka species, and could thus be related to adaptation to the banana host.

Evaluation of chlorothalonil and paraffinic oil alone and in combinations with registered fungicides for the control of yellow Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella musicola) of bananas in Northern Queensland, Australia

The efficacy of chlorothalonil and paraffinic oil alone and in combinations with the registered fungicides propiconazole, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, epoxiconazole and pyrimethanil was evaluated in a field experiment over two cropping cycles in 2013 and 2014 in Northern Queensland, Australia, for control of yellow Sigatoka (caused by Mycosphaerella musicola) of banana. The predominantly applied by the banana industry treatment mancozeb with paraffinic oil was included for comparison. The results from the two cropping cycles suggested that all chemicals used with paraffinic oil were as effective or more effective than when applied with chlorothalonil, and chlorothalonil alone. Difenoconazole and epoxiconazole with paraffinic oil followed by propiconazole with paraffinic oil were the most effective treatments. Pyrimethanil and tebuconazole plus chlorothalonil were the least effective treatments. None of the chemical treatments was phytotoxic or reduced yield.

Biomassa cítrica e fungicidas combinados com desfolha no controle da Sigatoka Amarela em banana “Prata”

Yellow sigatoka (Mycosphaerella musicola) is the main disease in banana areas in the Santa Catarina state. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of different methods of chemical and cultural control of sigatoka disease on Prata banana in subtropical climate. Six treatments were tested, evaluating three formulations (Tebuconazole 0,5 L ha-1 - Tiofanato metílico 0,6 L ha-1; Citric biomass 1,0 L ha-1; water) with or without leaf removal. The variables evaluated were under the curve of progress (AUDPC) and final gross sum (GSfinal) area. The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial scheme with five repetitions. Treatments were compared with Duncan´s test (P<0,05). Significant differences were verified for products compared to control, but not for leaf removal. It was found that fungicides and citric biomass resulted in significant reductions in AUDPC and GS final when compared to control. Fungicides and citric biomass reduced area under disease progress curve by 65 and 63%, as well as final gross sum were 87 and 73%, respectively. Results showed small influence of leaf removal, but new studies should evaluate its influence with higher frequency of defoliation. Fungicides and citric biomass are efficient in controlling sigatoka.

Impact of nutritional deficiency on Yellow Sigatoka of banana

The objective of this work was to assess the incidence of Yellow Sigatoka in banana plants cultivated with deficiencies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur or boron. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with 8 treatments, 4 repetitions and 1 plant per repetition. The treatments were supplied in solution culture and consisted of all the nutrients (control) or nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) or boron (B) deficiency. Leaves 1 and 2 were inoculated on the abaxial surface with a suspension of conidia and assessed every 5 days to with a total of 5 assessments. The average number of lesions were integrated for the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). The greatest AUDPC occurred in plants deficient in K, N, P, S, or Mg. Plants deficient in N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S or B had lower leaf contents of these nutrients and showed morphological changes expressed in visual deficiency symptoms. Thus, banana plants deficient in K, N, P, S or Mg had a greater incidence of Yellow Sigatoka, compared with plants with full nutrients and plants deficient Ca or B.

Spatial distribution of Yellow Sigatoka Leaf Spot correlated with soil fertility and plant nutrition

This study analyzed the spatial distribution of Yellow Sigatoka Leaf Spot relative to soil fertility and plant nutritional status using geostatistics. The experimental area comprised 1.2 ha, where 27 points were georeferenced and spaced on a regular grid 18 × 18 m. The severity of Yellow Sigatoka, soil fertility and plant nutritional status were evaluated at each point. The spherical model was adjusted for all variables using restricted maximum likelihood. Kriging maps showed the highest infection rate of Sigatoka occurred in high areas of the field which had the highest concentration of sand, while the lowest disease was found in lower areas with lower silt, organic matter, total exchangeable bases, effective cation exchange capacity, base saturation, Ca and Mg in soil, and foliar sulfur (S). These results may help farmers manage Yellow Sigatoka disease more effectively, with balanced fertilization and reduced fungicide application. This practice minimizes the environmental impact and cost of production while contributing to production sustainability.

Sigatoka Disease Complex of Banana in Brazil: Management Practices and Future Directions

Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the world's most important monocotyledonous crops, cultivated in over 100 tropical and subtropical countries. As the world's most consumed fruit, it can represent a source of livelihood in countries of the African continent, where the annual per capita consumption may reach 400 kg. Brazil is responsible for approximately 10% of global production, placing the country behind only India, China, Philippines and Ecuador. Of all the diseases affecting Musa production in Brazil, the largest impact is attributed to M. Fijiensis. Black Sigatoka can depreciate the physical properties of the fruit and cause premature ripening, as well as reduce functional leaf area, the consequence of which is reduced yield, with production losses of up to 100% in susceptible varieties such as M. Acuminate Cavendish Grande Naine (Musa cv. AAA) and Prata (Musa cv. AAB). Black Sigatoka was first reported in 1998 in the Amazon region, with the pathogen subsequently spreading across seven states in the North of the country and Mato Grosso. In 2005, the pathogen was also reported in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Parana and Santa Catarina. Since then, the pathogen has not been officially reported in any new areas, although it remains a threat to the Northeast region of the country. Although M. Fijiensis is regarded as the major constraint to banana production, M. Musicola is more widespread. Observed for the first time in Brazil in 1944 in the Amazon region, the pathogen now occurs in all growing regions, imposing substantial costs to affected growers. Here, losses of up to 50% of production are commonly reported as a result of Yellow Sigatoka. Genetic resistance is absent or partial in the majority of commercial banana cultivars, with the principal measures employed in integrated disease management based on the use of programmed applications of systemic or protectant fungicides.

Estimation of genetic structure of a Mycosphaerella musicola population using inter-simple sequence repeat markers.

Among the diseases affecting banana (Musa sp), yellow Sigatoka, caused by the fungal pathogen Mycosphaerella musicola Leach, is considered one of the most important in Brazil, causing losses throughout the year. Understanding the genetic structure of pathogen populations will provide insight into the life history of pathogens, including the evolutionary processes occurring in agrosystems. Tools for estimating the possible emergence of pathogen variants with altered pathogenicity, virulence, or aggressiveness, as well as resistance to systemic fungicides, can also be developed from such data. The objective of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity and population genetics of M. musicola in the main banana-producing regions in Brazil. A total of 83 isolates collected from different banana cultivars in the Brazilian states of Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, and Minas Gerais were evaluated using inter-simple sequence repeat markers. High variability was detected between the isolates, and 85.5% of the haplotypes were singletons in the populations. The highest source of genetic diversity (97.22%) was attributed to variations within populations. Bayesian cluster analysis revealed the presence of 2 probable ancestral groups, however, showed no relationship to population structure in terms of collection site, state of origin, or cultivar. Similarly, we detected noevidence of genetic recombination between individuals within different states, indicating that asexual cycles play a major role in M. musicola reproduction and that long-distance dispersal of the pathogen is the main factor contributing to the lack of population structure in the fungus.

Antifungal activity of fungicides and plant extracts against yellow sigatoka disease causing Mycosphaerella musicola

Mycosphaerella musicola causes yellow sigatoka disease in banana plantations, and affects overall yield and quality of the fruit. Synthetic fungicides are used to control disease. An integrated approach by using plant based extracts and synthetic fungicides can control the disease efficiently by reducing the usage of fungicides. In vitro studies were carried out to test methanolic extracts of ten plants belonging to seven different families having previous reports on antimicrobial activity against Mycosphaerella musicola, methanolic extracts of two plants showed significant antifungal activity as well as significant inhibition of spore germination in spore germination inhibition assay. All eight fungicides exhibited inhibitory action on M. musicola in poison food technique, where as MIC range of each fungicide varied significantly. The results revealed that integrated disease management by using efficient plant extracts and effective fungicides can control the disease and the pathogen in fields efficiently.

Agronomic characterization of autotetraploid banana plants derived from ‘Pisang Lilin’ (AA) obtained through chromosome doubling

The objective of this study was to agronomically characterize plants from induced chromosome doubling experiments in the Pisang Lilin parthenocarpic banana accession to select genotypes that will be used as 2n gamete donors in crosses with improved diploids to generate secondary triploids. Twenty-two plants were evaluated, of which 17 were autotetraploids. Compared with the original diploids, the Pisang Lilin autotetraploids showed significant increases in the plant height, number of living leaves at flowering and harvest, pseudostem diameter, and length and diameter of fruits; the Pisang Lilin autotetraploids also exhibited greater fruit and bunch weights compared with the original diploids. In addition, all autotetraploid plants did not exhibit any symptoms of yellow Sigatoka. Female fertility was also detected, as some plants produced seeds, indicating that they can be used as female parents. Therefore, the autotetraploids characterized in this study exhibited useful agronomical traits to be used as 2n gamete donors for generating secondary triploids.

Response of banana genotypes to yellow Sigatoka in coastal tablelands of Sergipe, Brazil

Brazil has low availability of productive commercial cultivars with appropriate size and resistance to yellow Sigatoka. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of different banana genotypes against yellow Sigatoka at conditions of Coastal Tablelands of Sergipe. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Field of Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, municipality of Nossa Senhora das Dores. The experimental design was randomized blocks design with 22 genotypes and three replications, six plants per plot. The genotypes tested were: Enxerto-33, Japira-106, FHIA-23, YB42-17, YB42-47, FHIA-18, PA42-44, PA94-01, PV79-34, Pacovan Ken, Pacovan, Prata-Anã, Maravilha, Garantida, Princesa, Tropical, Maçã, Grande Naine, FHIA-02, Caipira, Bucaneiro and Thap Maeo. The severity of yellow Sigatoka was evaluated at 60, 270 and 420 days after planting (DAP) (from July/2009 to July/2010), using a descriptive scale of Stover. Then, the infection rate was calculated at 60, 270 and 420 DAP, and was compared by Scott-Knott test at 5%. It was observed that genotypes have the same behavior at 270 DAP. At 60 DAP, genotypes with lower infection rate were Bucaneiro, Enxerto-33, Japira-106, YB42-17, FHIA-02, FHIA-18, FHIA-23, PA42-44, PA94-01, Caipira, Maçã, Prata-Anã and Thap Maeo. At 420 DAP, the lowest rates were obtained for genotypes YB42-17, FHIA-23, Princesa, YB42-47, Tropical, Grand Naine, Caipira, Maçã, Garantida, Bucaneiro, Pacovan Ken and Thap Maeo.

Mycosphaerella musicola Identified as the Only Pathogen of the Sigatoka Disease Complex Present in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

A thorough assessment of the distribution of Mycosphaerella spp. associated with banana in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, was conducted after Mycosphaerella fijiensis was first reported to occur in this region in 2005. From 2009 to 2011, 80 fields located in 20 municipalities including the same fields where the disease was first reported were sampled. A total of 800 samples of leaf tissue with symptoms similar to those of yellow or black Sigatoka diseases were examined, and 239 isolates were obtained. The identification of the fungi was based on morphological characters combined with DNA sequences obtained after amplification with species-specific primers and phylogeny inferred from the internal transcribed spacer region of Mycosphaerella strains from banana. All 239 isolates were identified as Mycosphaerella musicola. The absence of M. fijiensis in the samples may have been due to misidentification of M. fijiensis or the displacement of M. fijiensis by M. musicola. It is now apparent that yellow Sigatoka caused by M. musicola is the prevailing leaf spot disease of bananas in Minas Gerais State and that regulatory/legislative control measures need to be revised based on our findings.

An assessment of the benefits of yellow Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella musicola) control in the Queensland Northern Banana Pest Quarantine Area

The banana leaf spotting disease yellow Sigatoka is established and actively controlled in Australia through intensive chemical treatments and diseased leaf removal. In the State of Queensland, the State government imposes standards for de-leafing to minimise the risk of the disease spreading in 6 banana pest quarantine areas. Of these, the Northern Banana Pest Quarantine Area is the most significant in terms of banana production. Previous regulations imposed obligations on owners of banana plants within this area to remove leaves from plants with visible spotting on more than 15 per cent of any leaf during the wet season. Recently, this leaf disease threshold has been lowered to 5 per cent. In this paper we examine the likely impact this more-costly regulation will have on the spread of the disease. We estimate that the average net benefit of reducing the diseased leaf threshold is only likely to be $1.4million per year over the next 30 years, expressed as the annualised present value of tightened regulation. This result varies substantially when the timeframe of the analysis is changed, with shorter time frames indicating poorer net returns from the change in protocols. Overall, the benefit of the regulation change is likely to be minor.

Correlação fenotípica entre caracteres de híbridos diploides (AA) de bananeira

O estudo de correlação tem como propósito mensurar a alteração em um caráter quando se altera outro. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se estimar correlações fenotípicas entre o número de frutos por cacho e 22 caracteres avaliados em híbridos diploides (AA) de bananeira. No experimento, conduzido na Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições, foram avaliados 11 híbridos diploides (AA) de bananeira. Os caracteres avaliados foram: altura de plantas, diâmetro do pseudocaule, número de filhos, número de folhas na floração, período do plantio ao florescimento, presença de pólen, peso do cacho e da ráquis, sigatoka-amarela no florescimento, número de folhas na colheita, Sigatoka-amarela na colheita do cacho, número de dias do florescimento à colheita, comprimento e diâmetro do engaço, peso da segunda penca, número de pencas e de frutos por cacho, fragilidade do pedicelo, comprimento e diâmetro do fruto e comprimento do pedicelo, além de presença de semente. Após a tabulação, procederam-se a estudos de correlação entre o número de frutos e os demais caracteres da planta. Essas correlações variaram entre os genótipos, sendo assim, observado que as associações entre o número de frutos e os caracteres vegetativos da planta foram, de forma geral, não significativas. Já as relações entre o número de frutos por cacho e os outros caracteres produtivos foram, predominantemente, significativas.

Temporal Progress of Yellow Sigatoka and Aerobiology of Mycosphaerella musicola Spores

AbstractAn understanding of the progression of a disease is important in the adoption of control strategies as well as the evaluation of their efficacies. Temporal analysis is especially useful because it integrates the evolution of the interaction between the components of the pathosystem, as expressed by the accumulated data on the incidence and severity of disease and depicted by the disease progression curve. Within a given patho‐system, the dispersed airborne spores are important components in the progress of plant disease epidemics. Our aims were to evaluate the temporal dynamics of yellow Sigatoka in a banana plantation located in Coronel Pacheco, MG, Brazil, and to assess the aerobiology of Mycosphaerella musicola spores throughout the year. During the rainy season, we observed intense disease progression concomitant with high rates of leaf emission, which caused rapid reversal of the severity peaks after the maximum rates were reached. The yellow Sigatoka progress curve showed two peaks of extreme severity. The first, which occurred during the rainy season, was predominantly caused by a high concentration of conidia. The second, which occurred during the dry season, was predominantly caused by a high concentration of ascospores in the air. The ascospore concentrations were correlated with the severity of the disease 29 days later, indicating the average latency period of the disease in that region. The patterns of the severity curves for both peaks fit the monomolecular model, and the progression rates were higher during the rainy season than the dry season. The spore concentrations were the same at the two evaluated heights. In all evaluations, it was observed a higher concentration of ascospores than of conidia, with the greatest ascospore concentrations occurring during the early hours of the day and the greatest conidia concentrations occurring later, after the dew has dropped from the leaves.

Selection and Use Recommendation in Hybrids of Ornamental Banana

ABSTRACTThe ornamental market is dynamic and demands constant novelties. The use of fruit crops as ornamental plants can be an interesting alternative with very differentiated and original products. The banana germplasm bank at Embrapa Cassava and Fruits has been primarily used in the breeding program for generating new cultivars as food. To diversify and expand the use of this collection, accessions with ornamental potential have been selected to obtain new hybrids. This work was aimed at characterizing the progeny of ornamental Musa L. spp. by grouping the hybrids according to the following uses: landscape plants, potted plants, cut flower, or minifruits. Forty‐two hybrids were evaluated with 14 quantitative and 12 qualitative descriptors in three production cycles. In addition, assays for resistance to black and yellow Sigatoka and to Fusarium wilt were performed. Variability was observed for all the characteristics evaluated within progenies, especially with regard to leaf color, fruit, peduncle, rachis, and heart. All evaluated hybrids were resistant to yellow Sigatoka and to Fusarium wilt and were resistant or showed reduced symptoms of susceptibility to black Sigatoka. Most hybrids (82%) presented reduced plant height. After clustering by use category, the hybrids RM 09, RM 38, RM 37, and RM 33 were selected and recommended to be used as cut flowers, minifruits, or landscaping plants.

Effects of Black Leaf Streak Disease and Sigatoka Disease on fruit quality and maturation process of bananas produced in the subtropical conditions of southern Brazil

Banana fruits are harvested at the green-mature stage (pre-climacteric) in order to allow sufficient time for transport and marketing. The time between the harvest and the initiation of the natural ripening process is called green life (GL), which is closely correlated to physiological age. Sigatoka Disease (SD; also called yellow Sigatoka) and Black Leaf Streak Disease (BLSD; also called black Sigatoka) are the main foliar diseases affecting banana production. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of these diseases on banana GL and postharvest behavior in subtropical conditions (southeastern Brazil). The results showed that both diseases shortened the banana’s GL when compared to control bananas of the same physiological age. Moreover, fruits from infested plots showed higher values of CO2 (+100% for SD and +300% for BLSD) and C2H4 production (+30% for SD and +60% for BLSD) at the climacteric peak. BLSD caused 40% reduction in fruit weight. Fruits from plants with a high degree of SD or BLSD undergo an altered maturation process.