Yellow Sigatoka disease is one of the most important banana diseases, also known as cercosporiosis or Sigatoka disease and can cause premature death of leaves, which can cause a reduction in leaf area, inducing losses in productivity and quality of the crop. fruit, resulting in a decrease in the number of bunches per bunch, reduction in bunch size and premature fruit maturation in the field or even during transport.
If control is not carried out correctly, cultivation may become unfeasible.
Symptoms go through several stages of development. Initially, small discolorations occur on the underside of the leaf that evolve into yellow streaks. The stretch marks lengthen and tiny black dots appear.
Interference of climate issues
Climatic conditions such as rain, dew and temperature are directly related to the incidence and evolution of yellow Sigatoka symptoms. For the disease spore to germinate, there must be water on the leaf surface and a temperature above 25ºC.
Damage to banana cultivation
The damage caused by the disease is related to the loss of leaf area and consequently productivity. In more advanced cases, there is early death of the leaves, which contributes to the weakening of the plant, resulting in a reduction in fruit size and premature fruit maturation.
Yellow Sigatoka Control
The height of banana plants usually makes it difficult to control yellow Sigatoka. In this sense, the recommendation is that producers carry out integrated management of the disease. Draining the soil, eliminating infested leaves and shading plants are some of the cultural practices recommended for managing the disease. It is also important that the producer uses tolerant and/or resistant varieties and carries out dense planting.
Chemical control is the most efficient way to combat yellow Sigatoka. But it is necessary for the producer to be aware of the presence and evolution of the disease. In addition to not neglecting the climate and rotating control methods, including the use of fungicides with different mechanisms of action.
BASF recently launched the fungicide Versatilis®, which is efficient in controlling yellow Sigatoka and contributes to resistance management. Thinking about optimizing the control of yellow Sigatoka, BASF launched the fungicide Versatilis®. The solution is part of the chemical group of morpholines and acts curatively on more than one site of the fungus.
“Versatilis® is another tool that will contribute to resistance management, as it is part of the morpholine group, a new chemical group to be used in banana cultivation. The solution will complement BASF's portfolio, which already includes the fungicides Opera® and Collis®”, highlights Rodrigo Pifano, Hortifrúti Marketing Manager at BASF.
Source: Agrolink
