Cercospora Leaf Spot Disease of Bananas

Abstract

THOUGH widely distributed in the Indo Malayan and Australian regions and known to mycologists since 1902, the leaf spot disease of bananas caused by Cercospora musœ Zimm. (also known as Sigatoka disease) was not recorded in the western tropics until 1934¹. It is not known precisely how or when this malady was introduced into the Caribbean region, or whether its spread took place from one or several foci of infection; but during the brief period of two to three years from its first recognition in Trinidad it had appeared with epidemic intensity in many of the islands and on the mainland of Central and South America, and by its destructive effects on plantations showed itself to be a disease of first-class economic importance.