Abstract – Introduction. The susceptibility of banana fruit to crown rot and
anthracnose, the two main banana post-harvest diseases, is influenced by many pre-harvest
abiotic factors. Mycosphaerella leaf spot diseases (MLSD) of bananas are
biotic pre-harvest factors, which have an influence on fruit physiology. The fruit’s
susceptibility to post-harvest diseases may also be influenced by foliar diseases caused
by M. fijiensis, responsible for black leaf streak disease (BLSD), and
M. musicola, which causes sigatoka disease (SD). The aim of our study
was to determine the influence of these biotic pre-harvest factors on banana fruit’s
susceptibility to crown rot and anthracnose. Materials and methods. A disease
severity gradient was established in two experimental fields (Cameroon for BLSD and
Guadeloupe for SD) where, at the flowering stage, six different levels of MLSD severity
were selected. Fruit susceptibility was determined through necrotic surface assessments
after artificial inoculation by Colletotrichum musae on the 3rd hand of
harvested bunches. Results and discussion. BLSD significantly influenced
banana sensitivity to crown rot (P < 0.001) but only had a slight
effect on the development of anthracnose ( P = 0.041). SD had no effect
(P > 0.05) on banana susceptibility to either post-harvest disease.
These results are discussed with emphasis on the influence of variations in the
source-sink ratio on fruit physiology. The influence of BLSD on crown rot disease suggests
the need to take into account the management of these foliar diseases for an alternative
control method of post-harvest diseases through integrated pest management programs.