What Is Wrong With My Banana Plant?

Are there any brown spots or large brown to black areas on fruit peel?

Are there any red-brown flecks or spots on the leaves or spots with dark or yellow border and grey center?

Did the tips of fingers develop a dark rot?

Are there any oval, yellow or pale-brown spots near the leaf margins on lower leaves?

Are the older leaves yellowing, leaf sheats are splitting, leaves are wilting and buckling?

Does the pseudostem breaks from the rhizome, the rhizome will not germinate, internal tissue is yellow/brown and watery?

Are there any pale green flecks on leaves which enlarge to chlorotic streaks; streaks enlarge and turn brown with a chlorotic halo?

Is there a chlorotic mottling or stripes on foliage, the fruit may have chlorotic streaks or mottling too?

Are there any dark green streaks in leaves with chlorotic and upturned leaf margins, leaves are brittle and erect?

Are the plants deformed with curled, shriveled leaves, small insects are present?

Are the plant growth and fruit production reduced, tunnels may be visible in corm?

Are there visible small, flat, whitish scales, usually on undersides of leaves but may also attach to petioles, peduncles, and fruit?

Anthracnose is a fungal disease promoted by wet conditions. Commercially produced fruit should be washed and dipped in fungicide before shipping. Protect fruit from injury. Remove flower parts that can harbor fungus.

Black Sigatoka or Black leaf streak is currently the most important disease of banana. It's promoted by high moisture. Export plantations may require regular fungicide applications. Increase plant spacing to improve air circulation and reduce humidity. Remove leaves with mature spots.

Cigar end rot is a disease caused by two pathogens,

Cordana leaf spot is a fungal disease that is favored by the hot and humid condition. As the disease progress, the central dead brown area of spots is covered by concentric zonation which is surrounded by a yellow halo. Remove all the infected leaves and burn them. If the disease is severe spray copper-based fungicides.

Panama disease (Fusarium wilt) is a lethal disease that mainly spreads through the soil, running water, and infected rhizome. The fungus infects roots and grows inside xylem vessels which in turn blocks the flow of nutrients and water to plant. Use disease-free planting materials. There is no effective treatment once plants are infected.

Rhizome rot is a bacterial disease encouraged by wet, humid conditions. Bacteria live in soil and enter plants through wounds. Select only high quality, disease-free rhizomes for propagation. Disinfect all tools used for propagation regularly. Allow seed pieces to dry before planting.

Yellow sigatoka is a fungal disease spread by wind, rain, and irrigation water. Export plantations may require regular fungicide applications. Increase plant spacing to improve air circulation and reduce humidity. Remove leaves with mature spots.

Banana mosaic is a viral disease transmitted by aphids. Remove susceptible host plants from around plantation. Plant virus-free material. Control aphids.

Bunchy top is a viral disease transmitted by aphids. Plant less susceptible varieties. Destroy infected plants to prevent the spread of disease. Control aphids.

Banana aphids are soft-bodied, red-brown to almost black insects. These insects are vectors for bunchy top and banana mosaic diseases. Insecticidal soaps can help control aphid populations. Plants infected with a bunch top should be removed and destroyed to prevent spread.

Banana weevil is a hard-shelled beetle that is almost black. An adult is commonly found between leaf sheaths. Larvae are creamy-white, legless grubs with a red-brown head. Applications of neem powder can reduce weevil numbers. Appropriate insecticides applied at the time of planting can help control weevil numbers.

Coconut scale are known to attack bananas. Biological control is the best way to manage scale, with lady beetles providing the most effective protection.

Yellow, stunted plants and roots that have swollen galls indicate root-knot nematodes. Other symptoms are plants wilting during bright, hot days. Prevent root-knot nematodes by applying parasitic nematodes or solarizing the soil before planting.