Veronaea musae

Veronaea musae is a species of fungus in the family Herpotrichiellaceae. It is a plant pathogen that primarily affects the banana plant, causing a disease known as banana black end.

Taxonomy

The genus Veronaea was first described by mycologist G. Arnaud in 1918. The species Veronaea musae was later described by C. Booth in 1971. The species name musae is derived from Musa, the genus name for bananas, indicating the primary host of this fungus.

Description

Veronaea musae is a dematiaceous fungus, meaning it has darkly pigmented hyphae and spores. The fungus produces conidia that are single-celled and darkly pigmented. The conidia are produced on short conidiophores, which are specialized fungal structures for spore production.

Pathogenicity

Veronaea musae is a pathogen of banana plants, causing a disease known as banana black end. The disease is characterized by the blackening of the banana fruit's distal end, which can result in significant crop losses. The fungus infects the banana fruit through wounds or natural openings, and the infection can spread rapidly in conditions of high humidity and temperature.

Management

Management of Veronaea musae and the disease it causes involves a combination of cultural practices and chemical control. Cultural practices include the removal and destruction of infected plant material to reduce the source of inoculum. Chemical control involves the use of fungicides to prevent the spread of the fungus.

See also

• List of banana diseases
• Plant pathology