Some Preliminary Studies of Colletotrichum musae Associated with Banana Anthracnose Disease in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum species is a common postharvest disease of banana fruit in Sri Lanka. The present study was conducted to determine morphological and pathogenic variations and influence of culture media on the growth of Colletotrichum musae isolates, causing anthracnose disease of banana. Six colletotrichum musae isolates were isolated from 3 different banana local cultivars ('Kathali', 'Kappal', 'Etharai'). Length, width and length:width ratio of the spores differed significantly among 6 isolates of C.musae. Among the different media tested, Potato and Carrot dextrose agar media supported significantly the maximum growth of all the six isolates of C. musae. Recommended dosage of the fungicides Homai (Thiophanate-methyl 50% + Thiram 30% WP) and Topsin (Thiophanate-methyl 50%) completely inhibited the mycelia growth of six isolates in vitro. Characteristic symptoms of anthracnose were started to develop by all the isolates of C. musae on banana variety 'kathali' 2 days after inoculation of the pathogen. The present study revealed that morphological and pathogenic variations exist among different isolates of C. musae infecting banana fruits in Jaffna district of Sri Lanka.