The Banana in Central America III. Panama Disease

Abstract

DURING recent years in Jamaica and Central America, the spread and intensification of leaf disease of bananas, Cercospora musæ, Zimm., has tended to deflect public attention from another epidemic disease of long standing and of great economic importance, namely, Panama or wilt disease, caused by the soil-borne fungus, Fusarium oxysporum cubense. To-day the question is often asked as to which of the two diseases presents the greater danger to the industry. During 1935–40, an observer, surveying the almost incredible damage wrought by leaf disease in such a brief space of time, and aware of the much slower spread of wilt disease, might well have been tempted to regard the former as the greater evil, assuming that he did not take refuge, as Sir Roger de Coverley almost certainly would have done in the circumstances, in the view that there was much to be said on both sides. Among the more enlightened members of the planting community, however, the opinion is held that wilt disease is the more serious problem since leaf disease can be, and is being, controlled, whereas wilt disease can not. From the investigational point of view, leaf disease, while not a simple problem, nevertheless is not beset with those complications which are inseparable from the activities of soil pathogens, and whereas it is known that bananas resistant to wilt disease can be obtained by hybridization, the work is slow because of technical difficulties. So far, indeed, no hybrid has been obtained which possesses the many qualities which have made the Gros Michel the commercial banana par excellence. Moreover, it is apparent that some considerable time must elapse before such a hybrid is produced. In some respects, therefore, the Panama disease situation remains very much what it has been for many years. The disease, of course, has continued to spread and has led to the discontinuation of banana growing in many areas.