In addition to perithecia, spermagonia, and sporodochia of Mycosphaerella nmsicola Leach (Cercospora musac Zimm.), perithecia of M. minima Stahel, Leptosphaeria sp., Micronectridla sp. and Didymella sp. are present in banana leaf spots in Honduras. All of these fungi discharge ascospores from both surfaces of wet leaf spots. Discharges of M. musicola and Didymella are most abundant from June through December whereas ascospores of Micronectriella are abundant from January to June. Ascospores of M. minima and especially Leptosphaeria are abundant at all times. The two-celled ascospores of M. musicola, M. minima, and Didymella are readily identified by size, shape, and type of germination. M. musicola perithecia can be readily distinguished in non-sectioned lactophenol-cleared leaf tissue by the dark thick walls of the ostiole and periderm. M. minima and Micronectriella can produce ascospores in siugle-ascospore cultures. The latter also produces Fusarium macroconidia. Micronectriella sp. is present in young healthy leaves and is considered a banana leaf inhabitant. Perithecia of all species are more abundant in areas of mass leaf spot infection than in single, scattered spots.
The control of sigatoka (banana leaf spot disease) by mist-blowing with Banacobre-Sandoz.
