Severe modifications in source-sink ratio influence the susceptibility of bananas to crown rot and its phenolics content

Abstract

Banana susceptibility to crown rot is influenced by many biotic and abiotic preharvest factors, which include source-sink (So-Si) ratio modifications through trimming of leaves and fruit. Banana plant's resistance to biotic stress has been previously correlated to its phenolic content; it is hypothesized that the crown's phenolic content may influence the fruit's susceptibility. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of severe So-Si ratio modifications, via the removal of leaves and fruit, and the involvement of phenolics in the fruit's susceptibility to crown rot. Fruit susceptibility was evaluated 13 days postinoculation (13 dpi) with Colletotrichum musae. Banana crowns obtained on the day of harvest before inoculation (dhbi) and 13 dpi were analysed for changes in phenolics using GC-MS, HPLC, and LC-MS devices. Severe So-Si ratio modifications had a significant effect (p