Punctures or splits on fruit

Birds or bats

Cause: Birds and bats landing on the bunch to feed on nectar from immature flowers.


Solution: Cover bunches promptly and use thick covers. For Lady Finger apply covers before any bracts lift on the bunch. 

Bell injection

Cause: Incorrect bell injection technique.


Solution: Train staff to inject slightly above one-third from the top of the bell. 

Symptoms show as slightly raised yellow spots on small fruit or longitudinal cracks on growing fruit. The exposed tissue collapses and turns black.

Diamond spot

Cause: The fungus Cercospora hayi. Spores are produced on dead banana material. 


Solution: Diamond spot is a minor disease especially where control of leaf spot is effective.