What Rot Are Bananas Known to Get?

Diseases

• Banana diseases are caused by mold, fungi or bacteria and tend to be localized to geographic growing areas. Insect infestation and transportation of infected fruit can cause diseases to spread to new regions. Leaf spot, black leaf streak, banana wilt and Moko disease are all examples of localized diseases that have spread through transportation to other banana crops.

Finger Stalk Rot

• Finger stalk rot occurs when the stalk of the individual banana is cut or otherwise injured. The molds Botryodiplodia theobromae and Gloeosporium musarum enter the fruit through the cut and cause the fruit to wither, rot and fall off the bunch.

Black-end

• Characterized by sunken brown spots that become black, black-end rot is caused by an infestation of Gloeosporium musarum, Botryodiplodia theobromae or Botrytis cinerea mold. This specific type of rot is called anthracnose.

Over-ripening

• Over-ripening is the leading cause of rot in bananas. Improper storage, shipping and temperature control can all combine to bruise the fruit and speed up the ripening process. Fruit that is picked too late into the ripening process will also rot while being shipped or displayed for sale.