Deformed or variegated fruit
Mokillo
Cause: The disease is caused by multiple bacterium complexes. This includes Pseudomonas sp. and two bacteria from the Enterobacteraceae family; Pantoea agglomerans and Enterobacter cowanii, that have been frequently recovered from infected fruits. The bacteria occur naturally on flowers and may be transferred to other flowers by insects. Frequently only one finger per hand is infected. The problem is more prevalent in the wet season.
Solution: Control is not warranted.
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Nectaries (black spot inside banana tips)
Cause: Oxidation of the anatomical structure of the fruit (nectary).
Solution: Control is not warranted.
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Tissue-cultured off-type
Cause: A genetic abnormality occurring in tissue-cultured plants.
Solution: Destroy affected plants and set additional following suckers on nearby plants.
Cold weather
Cause: Temperatures below 6°C lead to abnormal growth. The more hours of exposure and the lower the temperature, the greater the damage.
Solution: Very early bunch covering before bract lifting will raise the bunch temperature by 1 to 2°C.
November dumps
Cause: Bunch initiation coinciding with night temperatures below 6°C in winter. These bunches normally emerge in October and November.
Solution: Seldom a problem in north Queensland. Plant crops are affected more than ratoons, so time planting to avoid bunch initiation during mid-winter.
