Pests, diseases & disorders

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Common pests, diseases & disorders of banana

Bananas can be impacted by a range of pests, diseases and disorders. Having appropriate management practices in place is essential for ensuring good quality fruit. Below is some general information on some of the major pests, diseases and disorders of banana. It also includes summaries of recent trial work undertaken by researchers from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

If you are having problems identifying what is causing damage to your crop check out the Better Banana’s problem solver section here. 

Pests

Banana flower thrips (Thrips hawaiiensis)

Banana rust thrips (Chaetanaphothrips signipennis) 

Banana scab moth (Nacoleia octasema) 

Banana weevil borer (Cosmopolites sordidus)

The banana spider mite (Tetranychus lambi) and the two-spotted mite (Tetranychus urticae) 

Adult female flower thrips measure 1 mm in length
Raised dark 'pimples' or ovipositions (eggs layed into skin) of flower thrips.
Corky scab damage from adult flower thrips feeding
Adult and larva of banana rust thrips
Banana rust thrips damage
Rust thrips damage on banana fruit
Banana rust thrips damage
Adult banana scab moth. Adults are approximately 22mm in width or wingspan.
Banana scab moth damage affecting multiple hands, progressing with intensity down the bunch.
Banana scab moth damage. Scarring on fruit makes it unsellable to market.
Adult banana weevil borer
Banana weevil borer larvae
Banana weevil borer tunnelling causing plants to come down
Adult spider mite with eggs
Adult spider mite with eggs

Diseases

Crown end rot (Several species including, Musicillium theobromae, Fusarium equiseti-incarnatum species complex, Colletotrichum musae and Thielaviopsis musarum)

Crown end rot trial work

Panama disease (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp cubense)

Panama disease trial work

Yellow Sigatoka (Pseudocercospora musae)

Panama disease tr4
Internal discolouration of pseudostem caused by Panama disease
Panama disease
Left: early stage of Panama disease symptom development showing the yellowing of leaves. Right: late stage after the leaves have dropped
Yellowing leaves in young plant infected with Panama disease TR4
Early stage symptoms of Crown end rot fungal infection
Symptoms of Chalara with damage extending from the neck of the fruit into the fingers
Alternative post-harvest product testing for treatment of crown end rot.
Yellow Sigatoka - New training materials now available
Yellow Sigatoka - New training materials now available
Stage 5 yellow Sigatoka symptom development

Physiological issues and disorders

Maturity bronzing

Maturity bronzing on top hand
Close up of maturing bronzing

For more information contact:

The Better Bananas team
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
South Johnstone
13 25 23 or email betterbananas@daf.qld.gov.au  

This information has been developed as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana industry research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. The Queensland Government has also co-funded the project through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
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