BANANA 



135 



first, but the plants are stunted and do not produce 

 fruit. The disease is undoubtedly contagious, and 

 probably bacterial. It stunts the growth of the plants, 

 and spreads slowly throughout the plantation. The 

 Central American blight, which may or may not be the 

 same as the above, is said to have caused the abandon- 

 ment of 15,000 to 20,000 acres in Panama, and to have 

 caused much greater loss in other Central American 

 countries. 



Wilt. A wilt which is said to be caused by a species 

 of the Sphaeropsideae has been reported from Porto 

 Rico, but the information concerning it is very meagre. 

 The leaves become more or less covered with yellow 

 spots, in the centre of which are clusters of minute dots 

 or fruit bodies. The plant wilts, but may live for a long 

 time. 



Fruit Rot. A fruit rot has been reported from 

 Trinidad, but its cause has not been demonstrated. 

 The leaves shrivel, the base of the petiole rots, and finally 

 the fruits are attacked by the rot. A number of 

 organisms have been 

 found, and among 

 them the nematodes, 

 which may prove to 

 be the primary cause. 



Ripe Fruit Rot. 

 A ripe fruit rot 

 (Fig. 56) due to 

 Gloeosporium mus- 

 arum, Cke. and 

 Massee, is very com- 

 mon throughout the 



American tropics, FlG> 56 ._ B anana affected with ripe fruit rot. 



and is frequently 



seen on the over-ripe fruits in the northern markets. 

 It has also been reported from Queensland, Australia, 

 and reports also indicate its presence in South East 

 Africa. Thus far, it has not proved severe. 



Fruit Scabs. These scabs have been reported from 



