Climate change develops banana diseases

According to British scientists, climate change has led to the development of banana plant diseases, especially black sigatoka disease, which thrives in the rainy season and affects banana productivity. Meanwhile, drought restricts disease development but does not provide enough water for banana plants.

According to British scientists, climate change has led to the development of banana plant diseases , especially black sigatoka disease, which thrives in the rainy season and affects banana productivity. Meanwhile, drought restricts disease development but does not provide enough water for banana plants.

Signs of black sigatoka (black sigatoka) in banana trees - (Photo: Dan Bebber).

According to the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B , a study by the University of Exeter (UK) confirms that climate change threatens to develop banana diseases. In particular, black sigatoka disease caused by pseudocercospora fijiensis causes dark spots and appears on the underside of banana leaves. The disease thrives in the rainy season and the dewy, wet season, severe disease affecting banana productivity.

Black sigatoka (black sigatoka) appeared in Asia at the end of the 20th century and could soon be invaded into Latin America and the Caribbean. This occurs due to the development of international trade and the increase in banana production. Black sigatoka disease affects a series of bananas spread by pseudocercospora fijiensis in the air through spores. It infects banana leaves and kills plant cells when light hits.

In the new study, scientists found changes in humidity and temperature increased the risk of developing black sigatoka in Latin America and the Caribbean more than 44% in the past 50 years.

Dr. Dan Bebber, one of the authors of the work, said climate change has facilitated the spread and development of black sigatoka spores. Despite the general increase in the risk of disease development in Latin America and the Caribbean region surveyed, drier conditions in some areas of Mexico and Central America have reduced the risk of infection.

The study incorporating experimental data on black sigatoka infection in the past 60 years has not yet anticipated the potential impact of future climate on the spread of a dangerous but certainly dry climate can Reducing the risk of developing black sigatoka, but drought also reduces the amount of water needed for banana plants.

Black Sigatoka is not the only threat to banana trees. Scientists also believe that the fungus of the Fusarium genus that attacks banana plantations in Asia, Africa and Australia also kills bananas.

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