Lecture 7, 8 & 9

BANANA
Botanical Name : Musa paradisiaca L / M. cavendishi L
Family : Musaceae
Chromosome No. : 2n = 22, 33, 44

leaves

fruit
Inflorescence
(spadix),

Trunk (pseudo stem)

Fig. 1 a well developed Banana plant

Banana is an important fruit of tropics. The fruit is recognized as the fourth most
important global food commodity. India’s share is 32 per cent of the total fruit
production. This is the only tropical fruit which is exported in large quantities and is
leading fruit in the international trade. It is one of the oldest and commonest of the Indian
fruits that has been cultivated since ancient times. Eve was said to have used banana
leaves to covers her modesty in the garden of paradise. Banana is thus called apple of
paradise. It is also known as “Adam’s fig or tree of wisdom. It is used as staple fruit in
most of the African countries and is used as ripe (table) or raw fruit (cooking). This fruit
is available throughout the year. All the plant parts are being used.

Uses and composition: Banana by virtue of its, multiple uses is popularly known as
“Kalpataru” (a plant with virtue). Usually banana is eaten when ripe as dessert / table
fruit. Plantain or cooking bananas are the staple food of people in many countries of
central and western Africa. Apart from fresh consumption, some types are also used for
culinary purposes. The flower bud and also the central core of the pseudostem are used to
prepare tasty dishes. Banana leaf is used as plates for serving food, leaf sheaths are used
as wrapping material and dry leaves as fuel, while, tender pseudostems, leaves,
underground rhizomes are used as cattle feed. Various processed products like banana
chips, toffee, puree, powder, flour, vinegar, jam, jelly and wine can be prepared from the
fruit. Banana fiber can be made in to attractive napkins, table mats and carry bags. The
fruits have a lot of medicinal properties and are used for treating various health disorders
specially acidity, ulcer, joint pains, high blood pressure and heart diseases.
Banana is rich source of energy (350 to 550 kilo joules/100g) and is a good source
of minerals and vitamins. It contains 73 per cent moisture, 25-30 per cent carbohydrates,
1.4 per cent protein, 0.3 per cent fat, 0.5 per cent mineral matters (Ca, Fe, P,K) and Vit- C
and K.

Cake Juice

Chocolate Chips Banana pudding.

Banana chips preparatio

Fig. 2. Different bi products of Banana

Origin and distribution:

The origin of banana is believed to be in the hot, tropical regions of South-East

Asia, stretching from India to Papua New Guinea, Malaysia and Indonesia. India has the
second largest diversity of indigenous bananas in the world. India has more than 300
germplasms, out of 600 reported worldwide. Edible Banana has arisen as a result of
natural crosses between two wild progenitors viz,. Musa. paradisiaca and Musa.
balbisiana. Banana is being grown in many of the African countries between 300 N and
500 S latitudes. Important countries are India (1st place) with a total production of 17
million tons from an area of 0.50 million hectare, and the other countries growing banana
are Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Fizi, Honduras, Hawai, Canary Island, Philippines, Taiwan,
Australia, Bangladesh, South Africa, Pakistan etc.

In India, it is the 2nd major fruits, occupying about 20 per cent of the total area
under fruit crops and 32 per cent of total fruit production, Tamil Nadu (88,000 ha.),
Maharashtra (59,000 ha.), Karnataka (61,000 ha.), Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa,
Gujarat and Kerala are the leading producers. Though, India is the leader in banana
production, Indian export of fresh banana is meager (12 million tons).
Soil and Climate

Banana can be grown in almost all types of soil provided adequate soil moisture is
available. Deep well drained, loamy soil with adequate organic matter is ideal for its
cultivation. The plant has restricted root zone. It can grow well in slightly alkaline soils.
Though banana requires large quantity of water, it cannot tolerate water stagnation. The
optimum soil pH is 6.5-7.5.
Banana being a tropical fruit crop, adapted to wide range of climatic conditions. It
is grown up to an altitude of 1200 m from mean sea level. The temperature range is 13-
400C, but the optimum is 25-300C for getting good yield, Heavy storms, frost, low
temperature (Less than100C) or extremely high temperature are detrimental to plant
growth which leads to abnormal or malformed condition.

Species and cultivars: The family musaceae has two genera viz.,. Ensete and Musa with
about 50 species.

1. Ensete- is an old genus, which probably originated in Asia and spread to Africa. It has
about 6-7 species, of which Ensete and Ventricosa has been reported to be grown as a
food crop.

2. Musa –it is having 40-45 species, all the varieties under these species are under
cultivation. The genus Musa is divided into following sections.

i. Eumusa (2n=22): This is the largest section with 13-15 species, all are cultivated
forms; Pseudostem usually exceed 3m in height with pendent or semi pendent
inflorescence, produces 10-25 nodes of flowers and covered with dull brown colour
bracts, gives the edible cultivated parthenocarpic banana and are derived from 2 wild
species. Musa accuminata (A) and Musa balbisiana (B).

ii. Callimusa: (n=10) -It is having 5-6 species. Plants with less than 3 mtrs in height,
suited as ornamental, parthenocarpy absent completely.
iii. Australimusa (2n=20)- These fruits are parthenocarpic and predominantly female
sterile; The fruiting bunch is erect and contains a red sap, the skin is orange in colour
when ripe. eg-Musa textilis (Manila hemp).

iv. Rhodochlamys (2n=22) -It is having 5-7 species, spreads from India to Indonesia,
pseudostem less than 3m height with erect inflorescence, parthenocarpy absent eg-M.
ornate & M velutina are sometimes grown as ornamental plants.

v. Incertae sedis- (x=7; 2n=14) - it is the largest among the Musaceae family, grows to
a height of over 10m. eg-M. ingens & M. beccarii (x=9, 2n=18).

All the edible bananas are descendents by natural cross between 2 wild ancesters, ie.,
Musa acuminata (A) and Musa balbisiana (B).
 These edible bananas have 22, 33 or 44 chromosomes i.e., Diploids, Triploids and
Tetraploids respectively. Triploid cultivars are generally numerous, diploids somewhat
less and tetraploid forms are very rare. The basic haploid numbers is 11.

Simmonds and Shephered (1995) have distinguished the major morphological charecters
of M. acuminata and M. balbisiana, which are as follows;

Sl.No. Characters Musa acuminata Musa balbisiana

1. colour of Heavily marked with black or Blotches slightly or
pseudostem brown blotches absent
2. Peduncle Usually downy or hairy Glabrous
3. Pedicel short Long
4. Ovules Two regular rows in each Four irregular rows in
loculus each loculus.
5. Bract curling Bracts roll after opening Bracts lift but do not roll
6. Bract shape Lancedote or narrowly ovate Broadly ovate not
tepering sharply. tapering sharply
7. Bract apex Acute Obtuse.
8. Bract colour Red, dull purpose or yellow Brownish purple outside
outside, pink dull purple inside. bright crimson inside.
9. Male flowers Creamy white Variably flushed with
colour pink.
10. Stigma colours Orange or rich yellow Cream, pale yellow.

The best known banana all over the world belong to the pure acuminata (AAA) group but
the clones which are having both the parents is associated with the greater drought
tolerance and resistance to diseases. Eg-AB, AAB, ABB, AA or AAA-suited for rainy
condition.

Genomic constitution of different cultivars of Banana:

In India bananas are distributed in southern, eastern, central and north eastern parts within
800 and 300N latitudes. Major genomic groups and cultivars are AA group:

1. AA- Anaikomban, Matti, Kadali, Tongat, pisanglilin.

2. AB- Ney poovan (Elakki bale), Kunnan, Nathu Poovan. Thaen kunnan, Adakka
Kunnan.
3. AAB- Poovan, Rasthali, Pachanadan/Kaali/Galibale, Nendra paditha, Rajapuri,
Virupakshi/Sirumalai, Nendran/Rajeli, Chinali.
4. AAA- Dwarf Cavendish/Basrai, Giant Cavendish, Robusta, Gross michel, Grand
naine, William, Nagabale, Chenkadali/Red banana, Chakkarakeli, Amrit sagar.
5. ABB- Nalla Bontha, Monthan/Kanchkela, Keribontha, Peyan, Karpuravalli,
Sugandhi.
6. AAAA- Bodles Altafort, IC-2.
7. ABBB- Klue Taparod
8. AABB- Kalamagol
9. AAAB- Atan, Goldfinger (FHIA).

Characteristics of important Banana varieties:

1. Ney poovan/Elakkibale (AB): It is

commercially cultivated in Kerala and
Karnataka. The plants are medium sized with
slender, yellowish pseudostem, having reddish
petiole margin. Small fruits flesh firm, sweet
and highly fragrant. The average bunch weight
is about 12 kg. It is tolerant to leaf spot and
fusarium wilt, but susceptible to banana bract
mosaic virus.

2. Kunnans (AB): It is a back yard cultivar of Kerala and Karnataka. The plants are
medium sized and slender fruits with firm pulp with good taste. Mainly used as
infant food after conversion into banana flour. It is tolerant to leaf spot and
fusarium wilt.

AAA group: Cavendish sub-group;

3. Dwarf Cavendish/Basrai (AAA): It is the
most important commercial cultivar of India
the plant is dwarf, fruit large, curved, skin
thick and greenish, flesh soft and sweet.
Even after ripening the fruit is greenish in
colour, but fruits ripening during winter
season develop yellow colour. The keeping
quality is not good; The average bunch
weight is about 20kg and suitable for high
density planting, and susceptible to leaf spot
disease. Musa 'Super Dwarf' Cavendish
 4. Gross Michel (AAA): It is the main cultivar of this sub-group. Gross Michel was
the leading cultivar in the world banana trade until the late 1950. The variety has
lost its commercial status due to susceptibility to panama wilt.

Red Banana Sub-group

5. Red Banana (AAA): This cultivar is grown
throughout the world. The colour of the
pseudostem, petiole, midrib and fruit peel is
purplish red. The fruit is of good size and has a
characteristic aroma. The average bunch weight
is 20 kg. It thrives well in humid tropics and at
higher altitudes. It is highly susceptible to
bunchy top, fusarium wilt and nematode.

Silk Sub-Group:
6. Rasthali (AAB): it is one of the most popular commercial
choicest table cultivar of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Bihar. The plant is
tall and can be easily identified by the yellowish green stem
with brownish blotches. Reddish margins of the petiole and
leaf sheath. The average bunch weight is about 12 kg. Fruits
are medium, thin skin, yellow in colour flesh firm, sweet
with a pleasant aroma. It has the disadvantage of longer
duration, severe susceptibility to fusarium wilt, easy
dropping of fruits from bunch. Susceptible to sun injury and
formulation of hard lumps in the pulp.

Mysore Sub-group
7. Poovan/Champa (AAB): The plant is tall, hardy and
grows vigorously, one of the distinguishing characters of
the plant is the rose pink colour on the outside of midrib,
fruit is medium to small, yellow skin firm flesh with sub-
acidic taste, good keeping quality, the average bunch
weight is about 15kg. It is resistant to panama wilt and
fairly resistant to bunchy top highly susceptible to banana
bract mosaic and streak virus.

Other varieties/Cultivars
Grand Naine Nendran Watabale Karibontha
 Karpooravalli Monthan Boodibale Virupakashi

Crop improvement
The commercially cultivated bananas are susceptible to pest and diseases. Also to
increase the yield and improve the post-harvest quality of fruits, some of the national and
international institutes are working out for improvement of banana crop.

International Network for Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP) - France.

International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) - Nigeria.
ICAR: Aduthurai-Tamil Nadu i.e NRC on banana & later it was shifted to Trichy.
FHIA. i.e Foundacion Hondurena de Investigation Agricola, Handura released different
banana hybrids.

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore, KAU, Kannara,

Kerala, Fruit Research Station, Kavoor, Andhra Pradesh. All these institutions have
worked on collections, evaluation and improvement of banana germplasm for further
breeding programme. All the cultivated varieties i.e, 303 cultivars, which are all natural
hybrids between acuminata and bulbisiana. Cultivated and edible types belongs to pure
acuminata (AA) family.

IC-1- The first hybrid between Gross michel x Musa acuminata sub species Malacensis
developed in 1990 from IITA, Nigeria, resistant banana clone for wilt disease, which is
similar to that of Gross michel, a premier cultivar in that zone. It was not accepted
because it produces small fruits. Also IC-2, 5-19 - none of them are better than Gross
michel. Later,

FHIA-01: It is popularly known as Gold finger. It is the cross between a dwarf lady
finger type ie., Dwarf prata x SH-3142. It is a desert banana, produces heavy bunch (20-
25 kg) and has Apple flavour & suitable for export. It is resistant to black sigatoka &
fusarium wilt race 1&4.

FHIA-03: GH-3386xSH3320-It is a Robusta, Disease resistant cooking banana.

FHIA-04: AVP67xSH3437-A French type hybrid, has very attractive golden coloured
pulp, resistant to black leaf streak or black sigatoka resistance.

FHIA-17: high gate x SH-3362-Cavendish hybrid resistant to black sigatoka.

FHIA-21: AVP-67x SH3142 resistant to black sigatoka

The other hybrids are-FHIA-19,20,22
TNAU- C0-1: It is a multiple cross hybrid involved
Kallar laden x M balbisiana cv savani.
AA ↓ BB
F1 AB x AA (Kadali)
↓
AAB - C0-1 also called H-135

H-135- it is a pome hybrid. It retains the typical virupakshi characteristics. However, the
bunch is small in size.

H1-Agniswar x Pisang lilin – released by Kerala Agricultural University- resistant to leaf

spot, fusarium wilt & burrowing nematode, yields 14-16 kg bunch

H2- Vannan x Pisang lilin -tolerent to leaf spot & nematode, yields - 15-20kg.

Propagation:
Banana is traditionally propagated vegetatively through suckers or rhizome or tissue
culture plants. Sexual propagation is not possible due to Parthenocarpic nature of fruits.

Banana produces two types of suckers 1.Water suckers.

2. Sword suckers.

Water suckers: Water sucker is one which is characterized by broader leaves which do
not produce a healthy banana clump, with slender pseudostem. Rhizome/corm is not well
developed. It takes more time (more than 18 months) for yielding. Yield also less. These
types normally develop from shallow buds away from pseudostem near the soil surface.
Sword sucker: Sword sucker is one with well developed rhizome, well developed
pseudostem with sword like leaves. It takes 12-13 months to yield and gives bigger
bunches. Sword suckers are closely associated with the mother plant and therefore
develop strong thick rhizomes of their own.

Important criteria’s to select the suckers for planting.

The orchard/mother block should be disease free.
The weight of the suckers should be 1.0- 1.5 kg.
The mother plant should be heavy yielder.
Always select sword suckers for planting.
Select the suckers free from rhizome weevils.
Age of suckers: 3-4 months

The whole or split rhizomes can also be used when suckers are not available. Bits of
rhizomes may also be used as a planting material.
Tissue cultured plants were also used as planting material on commercial scale.

Pairing & Prolinage: It is the removal of older leaves, roots, adhered soil and other
particles on the surface of rhizome and top portion of the suckers leaving 15cm from
rhizome should be removed and immersed in cow dung slurry, sprinkle phorate granules
@ 10-15 g/rhizome in order to avoid soil pathogen & rhizome weevils. Also rhizomes are
dipped in fungicide solution by giving a slant cut.

Planting: Banana can be planted throughout the year except in severe winter and during
heavy rains. In general, June-July is the most common season of planting.

Pit method: Pit method and furrow methods are commonly followed
The pit size of 60cm3 should be opened at 1.8 x 1.8m or 2 x 2m (Tall varieties) adopting
square system. These pits are filled with top soil with 20-30 kg. FYM should be applied at
least 15-30 days prior to planting. During planting each pit will be supplied with 250gm
neem cake and 50 gm of trichoderma to prevent nematode & rhizome rot problems.
Planting of suckers at the centre of pit and irrigate immediately after planting. Spacing
should be adopted variety wise.
Furrow method: This is the most common method of planting. Furrows of 15-20cm
deep are opened at a regular distance and rhizomes are planted in the furrows. Paired row
planting in tissue culture plants

Tissue culture plants: Banana is also grown commercially by using tissue cultured
plants, these plants required much care throughout the growth period compare to suckers
and yields about 10-20 per cent more than suckers.

In recent years the concept of HDP is being practiced, suckers are planted at
closer spacing or planting two suckers per pit by accommodating more number of plants
at specified spacing to get higher yield and reduced cost of production. The cultivar
Robusta and Dwarf Cavendish spaced at 1.5x1.5m accommodates 4444 plants/ha is
recommended by IIHR was recorded highest yield.

Irrigation: The soil in banana plantation should not be allowed to dry completely.
Banana requires high amount of water ranging from 1800-2500 mm annually. About 40-
45 irrigations are required from planting to harvest at 4-5 days interval.

Nutrition Management: Banana is a heavy feeder, Due to shallow root system of the
crop, it responds well to applied nutrients. The high fertilizers requirement of banana is
mainly due to their rapid and vigorous growth and high fruit yield.

State N P K FYM
(t/ha)
Karnataka
Dwarfcavendish 540kg/ha 325kg/ha 675kg/ha 40
Robusta 405kg/ha 245kg/ha 507kg/ha 40
others 400kg/ha 240kg/ha 500kg/ha 40

Maharastra 600g/plant 720g/plant 600g/plant 100 carts/ha

Andhra Pradesh 200g/plant --- 200g/plant 40
Tamil Nadu 110g/plant 35g/plant 330g/plant 10kg/plant
Kerala
Nendran 190g/plant 115g/plant 300g/plant 10kg/plant
Others 160g/plant 160g/plant 320g/plant 10kg/plant
 Fertilizers have to be applied before initiation of inflorescence in 3 splits i.e. 2nd,
4th and 6th months after planting. The fertilizers should be applied at 30-45cm radius
from the plant by making basin and mix with the soil then irrigates the plant.

Weed control : In banana, weed is a problem at the early stage of growth, for
conservation of moisture, proper utilization of nutrients as well as for effective control of
pests and diseases weed free environment is essential in banana. Integrated weed
management programme should include growing of cover crops, use of herbicides, inter
cropping and hand weeding where ever necessary. Pre emergence application of Diuron
at the rate of 4kg/ha controlled grasses and broad leaved weeds without affecting the yield
and quality of banana or application of Glyphosate 2kg/ha followed by gramoxone
1.8kg/ha proved effective in controlling weed growth.

Important cultural practices:

Desuckering: Desuckering is done by cutting the pseudostem of sucker at the ground
level followed by application of kerosene/2-4, D @ 0.5 per cent also the growth of
suckers can be inhibited by damaging the cut end to prevent further growth. As banana
produces number of suckers, if allowed, they compete for moisture nutrition with mother
plant; one or two healthy sword suckers may be allowed to grow for ratoon crop.

Earthing up: To prevent uprooting of plant by wind soil is mounded around the
pseudostem during rainy season.

Propping: Providing support to the plant when it is at bunching stage. If dwarf variety
and closed spacing no propping is required but for all tall varieties, it is required by using
bamboo poles or any other supports.

Denaveling: Removal of male buds after the last set of fruit. It increases the bunch
weight/fruit weight and quality of fruits also.

Thrashing: A process of removal of old, dry, diseased and senescent leaves this could
reduce the disease and facilitate better light, temperature and air. However, if leaves are
pruned before bunch initiation, flowering is delayed and cycle time increased. A
minimum of 12 leaves are required to be retained for maximum yields

Bunch covering: Bagging of bunch with perforated

polythene cover or dried leaves to protect against
cold sun scorching, attack of thrips and other
scrapping insects, during bunch maturity stage, the
bags may be coated with pesticides.

Growth and development of the plant: During the life cycle, the plant produces 30-40
at 4 leafs per month depending on variety. The last leaf produced at shooting which is
small in size is called flag leaf. The first distinguishing feature between vegetative and
reproductive phase is the production of bract primordium. The basal (proximal) nodes of
the inflorescence bear female and the upper (distal) nodes contain male flowers. In
between male and female buds, hermaphrodite flowers and have stunt ovaries and do not
develop in to edible fruit.

Banana fruit botanically known as berry. The edible bananas are vegetative
parthenocarpic, the female sterility gene and lack of pollen due to triploidy causes
seedless nature. While pollination is essential for fruit development in the wild seeded
bananas.

Use of Plant Growth Regulators: The process of flowering governed by Gibberlin like
substances helps in development of plant, later on anthecin hormone inducing flowering
of plant, both combiningly called as “Dual factors hypothesis”.

Spraying of NAA at 100 ppm after 5 and 7 months of planting markedly increases
fruit size and yield. Spraying of 2-4 D@ 20ppm increased the quality of fruits. It is
poured in the growing apex, than bunch will have more of female flowers/fingers.
Application of GA3 at 50mg/L resulted in maximum yield and required less number of
days for fruit maturity in Giant Governor Banana.

Fruit maturity and harvest: Under favorable conditions, banana starts flowering in 9-12
months and fruits matures in about 4-5 months depending upon varieties, climate etc.
Banana are harvested at 3/4th maturity stage for distant markets or for chips making
purpose while, for local markets are harvested at full maturity. The following are the
indications of maturity of banana.
 Drying of top leaves.
 Changing of fruit colour from green to light green.
 The floral ends of fruits are shed with slight hand touch at apices.
 Fruit become plumpy and angles are filled & disappear.
 One or two fruits ripe at the basal end (yellow colour).
 Starch content of the fruit (22-25%).
The bunches are to be harvested by leaving 2 ft of peduncle on the bunch.

Mattocking: It is the process of cutting the pseudostem after harvesting of bunches. After
harvesting the pseudostem should be cut leaving a stump of about 0.6m hight, the left
over stump with its stored food material continues to nourish the daughter sucker
(follower) till it withers and dries up.

Yield: Yield of banana varies with variety, production practices. Tall cultivars usually
yield 15-20 tones/ha. Cavendish group varieties yield about 40t/ha, whereas the hill
banana/cooking varieties yield about 11-15 tones/ha.
Post harvest management:
Banana can be stored at about 130C with the Relative Humidity of 85-95 per cent
for 3 weeks and is ripened in a week at 16.5-21.00C. The fruits should not be stored /
shifted under refrigerated condition. The storage life can be increased by keeping the
fruits in high concentration of carbon dioxide and low concentration of oxygen. Also
storing in sealed polythene bags containing ethylene absorbent like potassium
permanganate. Shrink film wrapping or Waxol (12 per cent) treatment can extend shelf
life up to 3 weeks.

Bananas are not usually allowed to ripen on the tree; Smoking done with straw,
leaves & cow dung in a closed chamber for 18-24 hours in summer and 48 hours in
winter and later shifted to ventilated room for uniform ripening. The exogenous
application of 100 ppm ethylene gas in an enclosed chamber for 24 hrs for will produce
uniform colour and ripening.

Rhizome and sucker production

The true stem of banana is technically tuberous rhizome.Botanical description of

the bananas by various authors indicate that the banana stem should be regarded as a short
rhizome. The mature rhizome is about 300 mm in diameter and has extremely short
internodes covered externally with closely packed leafscars. The rhizomes should remain
completely below the surface of the soil for stability of the plant.

Production of banana suckers in large quantities is currently receiving attention in

the wake of great demand for elite planting material. Besides, rapid multiplication of
suckers in successful hybrids will enable their quick spread in short period. Suckers
production in banana is influenced by a complexity of factors. Some authors reported
that, the diploids ranked first in suckers production followed by triploid and tetroploid in
the order. Puer accuminata diploids and triploids produced larger number of suckers than
the balbisiana derivatives. The nutritional status of the mother plant has an overwhelming
influence on sucker production. Among the cultivars, greater uptake of nutrients by a
cultivar of the same ploidy level resulted in more sucker production. for instance,
Anaikomban (AA among the diploids and Monthan (ABB) among the triploids showed
higher uptake of nitrogen with resultant increase in the production of suckers.

Pests and diseases: Some of the important pests and diseases are listed here under.
Pests

1. Pseudostem borer-most of the commercial cultivars are attacked by the borer.

Exudation of plant sap is the initial symptom and blackened mass comes out from
the holes bored by the larvae.
2. Rhizome weevil-Nendran is highly susceptible, damaged corms show feeding
tunnels filled with mass of rotten tissues.
3. Banana aphid-vector of the virus disease bunchy top
 4. Fruit and leaf scarring beetle-The beetle feeds on young leaves and skin of young
fruits, occurance is maximum in rainy season.

Diseases
1. Panama wilt - Fusarium oxysporium F.sp cubens
It is the most severe and important disease of banana. Rasthali is highly susceptible
cultivar. It is serious in poorly drained soil. Resistant varieties are Robusta & Dwarf
Cavendish.

2. Leaf spot/Sigatoka – It is a fungal disease, initially,presence of light yellowish spots

on the leaves under sever condition formation of brown spots and lator dies, turning light
grey surrounded by a brown ring. The Gros Michel and Cavendish group are all (AAA )
highly susceptible to sigatoka. While, all ABB clones are resistant.

3. Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV):-Transmitted by aphid vector, Pentalonia

nigronervosa. The dwarf banana cultivars are very Susceptible. The leaves are bunched
together like a rosette at the top, the margins are wavy and slightly rolled upward. Dark
green streaks of the lamina or midrib. The plants are stunted and do not produce bunch of
commercial value. Some of the other diseases are Pseudostem heart rot, Diamond spot,
Anthracnose, Cigar end tip rot, Crown rot, Bacterial soft rot, Bacterial wilt or moko
disease, banana streak virus, banana bract mosoic virus etc., causing damage to banana
plants.