The cigar end rot disease

The cigar end rot disease (Trachysphaera fructigena)

Credit: Biovision-Infonet

It is a fungal disease that can attack the ripening fruit of banana, causing a dry rot of the flower end that produces an ash grey wrinkled lesion similar to the burnt end of a cigar. In storage or during transport the disease may progress to involve the whole fruit. Symptoms are: lesions, abnormal shape, visible mould.

The disease is usually of minor significance and seldom requires targeted control.

What to do:

• Practise sanitation.
• Avoid damage to the fruit and deflower 8-11 days after fruit bunch emergence.
• Bagging of maturing banana stems.