This document summarizes information about the banana cigar end rot disease. It is caused by the fungi Verticillium theobromae and Trachysphaera fructigena. Symptoms include blackening and folding of banana finger tips, giving them a corrugated and ash-covered appearance resembling a cigar. The disease favors high rainfall, humidity, and temperatures between 18-22°C. Management strategies include cultural practices like removing bracts and opening up bunches, chemical control with fungicide sprays, and removing pistils and perianth from fruits.

1. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
(Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-3)
Kullapuram (Po),ViaVaigai Dam, Theni-625 562
BANANA CIGAR END ROT DISEASE
STUDENT COURSE TEACHER
A.ASHWIN KUMBLE Dr.PARTHASARATHY.S
2015021017 Asst.Prof.,(Plant Pathology)

2. Disease Name:
Banana Cigar End Rot
Pathogen Name:
Verticillium theobromae
Trachysphaera fructigena

3. Systematic Position
Kingdom : Fungi
Phylum : Ascomycota
Class : Sordariomycetes
Subclass : Hypocreomycetidae
Order : Hypocreales
Family : Incertae sedis
Genus : Verticillium
Species : theobromae

4. Occurrence
Inventor
This disease was first discovered by Nees (1816).
History and Diversity
In India it is reported from Andra Pradesh and Madya
Pradesh. It is also common in countries like Egypt, and
Australia. The disease incidence is correlated with
occurrence of rain fall.

5. Pathogen description
• Conidiophores are solitary or in small groups.
• Conidia are hyaline, oblong to cylindrical. They are borne
at the ends of tapering phialides, aggregated into rounded,
mucilaginous translucent heads.
• Conidia are asexual spores.
• Primary source of inoculum: Dormant mycelia
• Secondary source of inoculum: soil and air borne conidia

6. Symptoms
• The pathogen affects even the immature fruits.
• The upper portion of the peduncle is exposed to
the hot sun, when the bunch emergence occurs
during summer months and due to reduced
functional leaves reduced
• The infection, which occurs in perianth, spreads to
fingers causing blackening of the skin, shrinkage
and folding of the tissues.

7. • The affected tissues are corrugated and covered with
conidiophores and powdery grey conidia resembling
ash on a cigar end.
• Dry rot also occurs in the pulp and the affected tissues
become dry and fibrous.
• Warm and moist conditions favour the disease
occurrence and the disease spread is high in old and
badly maintained plantations.

9. Blackening at tip Cigar end appearance
©agritech.tnau.ac.in
Symptoms

10. Powdery grey conidia
©agritech.tnau.ac.in

11. Spread of disease
Mode of spread :
• The pathogen is transmitted by either wind or rain
splashes.
• Disease spread is high in old and badly maintained
plantations.

12. Favorable conditions
High rainfall,
High humidity (90-92%),
Low temp, (18-220c) and
Presence of susceptible host create conditions
which favours the disease development.

13. Management
Cultural method:
• Young bunches should be opened up to the light and
air and the bracts which remain attached to the bunch
should be removed especially during wet weather.
• The plantations should have enough aeration by
avoiding overcrowding of plants.
• Improved sanitation helps in the reduction of the
disesase.

14. • By placing polythene sleeves over the stems before
hands emerge.
Mechanical method :
• Removal of pistil and perianth by hand immediately
after the fruits are formed.
• Pistils should be removed 8 to 11 days after bunch
emergence.

15. Chemical method :
• The bunches may be sprayed with Copper oxychloride
0.25 per cent solution along with a wetting agent @ 0.5
to 1.0 ml per litre of spray fluid.
• Spraying of the peduncle with Carbendazim at 0.1% or
Dithane M-45 at 0.1% after shoot emergence.

16. References :
http://agritech.tnau.ac.in
http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in