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. 

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Bunch pests

Banana flower thrips (Thrips hawaiiensis)

Banana rust thrips (Chaetanaphothrips signipennis) 

Adult and larva of banana rust thrips
Adult and larva of banana rust thrips
Banana rust thrips damage
Banana rust thrips damage
Rust thrips damage on banana fruit
Rust thrips damage on banana fruit
Banana rust thrips damage
Banana rust thrips damage
Raised dark 'pimples' or ovipositions (eggs layed into skin) of flower thrips.
Raised dark 'pimples' or ovipositions (eggs layed into skin) of flower thrips.
Corky scab damage from adult flower thrips feeding
Corky scab damage from adult flower thrips feeding
Adult female flower thrips measure 1 mm in length
Adult female flower thrips measure 1 mm in length

Corm pests

Banana weevil borer (Cosmopolites sordidus)

Adult banana weevil borer
Adult banana weevil borer
Banana weevil borer larvae
Banana weevil borer larvae
Banana weevil borer tunnelling causing plants to come down
Banana weevil borer tunnelling causing plants to come down

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
Yellowing leaves in young plant infected with Panama disease TR4
Early stage symptoms of Crown end rot fungal infection
Early stage symptoms of Crown end rot fungal infection
Symptoms of Chalara with damage extending from the neck of the fruit into the fingers
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.
Alternative post-harvest product testing for treatment of crown end rot.
Deleafing is the most critical control method for managing yellow Sigatoka
Deleafing is the most critical control method for managing yellow Sigatoka
Advanced yellow Sigatoka symptoms
Advanced yellow Sigatoka symptoms
Stage 5 yellow Sigatoka symptom development
Stage 5 yellow Sigatoka symptom development

Physiological issues and disorders

Maturity bronzing

Maturity bronzing on top hand
Maturity bronzing on top hand
Close up of maturing bronzing
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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