Pseudocercospora fijiensis and Pseudocercospora musae: Understanding the relationship between biology and epidemiology

Abstract

The complex of Sigatoka diseases encompasses the most destructive leaf diseases affecting banana plants (Musa spp.). Among these the Yellow Sigatoka and Black Sigatoka, caused by the fungi Pseudocercospora musae and Pseudocercospora fijiensis, respectively, outstand as the most severe. In a scenario marked by the presence of both diseases, Black Sigatoka has prevailed, indicating that this is more severe than Yellow Sigatoka. Aiming to understand the ecological behaviour of both fungi and the evolutionary characteristics that make Black Sigatoka more aggressive, the present study aims to review and analyse the epidemiological relationship exerted in the pathosystem involving P. fijiensis and P. musae fungi, discuss the environmental, genetic and epidemiological factors which contribute to determine the adaptive value and competitive ability that explain the predominance of Black Sigatoka over Yellow Sigatoka. Our review showed that particular features such as higher rate of lesions expansion, increased production of sexual spores, precociousness of sexual cycles, greater thermal amplitude for disease development, predominance of epiphytic colonization and production of phytotoxins associated with pathogenicity are some of the adaptations that P. fijiensis noticeably accumulates, which are decisive for its competitive capacity.