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Some graminicolous fungi associated with spotting of banana leaves in Jamaica
Author(s) -
MEREDITH D. S.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1963.tb03704.x
Subject(s) - biology , cercospora , spore , spots , curvularia , botany , pathogenicity , sugar , sugar cane , conidium , spotting , cane , leaf spot , horticulture , agronomy , aspergillus , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , optics , biochemistry
SUMMARY A dense spotting of leaves of young Lacatan banana plants is reported; the diameter of individual lesions rarely exceeds 2 mm. The disease is common near grassland or sugar‐cane but rare in grass‐free areas removed from sugar‐cane. Although widespread throughout Jamaica, it appears to be of negligible economic importance. Direct microscopic examination of lesions, spore‐trapping, isolation work and pathogenicity tests show that Cochliobolus sp. (?C. heterostrophus), Curvularia lunata and C. geniculata , and several species of Helminthosporium are associated with the disease and that spores of these fungi are regular components of the air‐spora in the vicinity of spotted banana leaves. The evidence suggests that grasses and sugar‐cane are major sources of inoculum. Other spots are caused by Detghtoniella torulosa which sporulates abundantly on decaying banana leaves.