Postharvest Disease of Banana Caused by Fusarium musae: A Public Health Concern?

Banana Crown Rot Postharvest Disease Banana is one of the most important tropical crops and is affected by several fungal diseases, such as crown rot postharvest disease [1]. Crown rot is responsible for significant losses in banana fruits [1, 2]. Predominantly, Colletotrichum musae and Fusarium spp. are its causative agents [1, 2]. Inoculum sources include mainly infected flowers but also decaying leaves, and fungal transfer can occur from banana stalks onto the crown surface during the cutting of banana bunches (knife-induced) as well as when the bunches are cleaned in contaminated water (Fig 1) [1]. Fungal infection starts at harvest, and the first symptoms of crown rot appear only after packaging and shipping from producing countries to consuming countries [1, 2]. Crown rot begins with a mycelium development on the crown surface, followed by an internal development [2]. This internal development can, subsequently, affect the peduncle and the whole fruit, leading to softening and blackening of the fruit tissue [2]. Postharvest fungicidal treatments are applied to control crown rot disease, though severely affected banana fruits are still found in consumer markets [3]. Moreover, onset and spreading of the disease is unpredictable and can also induce early ripening of banana fruits during transport [2].