Host-pathogen interactions of Musa spp. and Mycosphaerella musicola with epidemiological variables and leaf anatomy within the pathosystem of Yellow Sigatoka disease

Abstract

Few details concerning the host-pathogen interactions that occur during the infection process are available for this disease. Studies have been carried out under greenhouse conditions with artificial inoculation with 2 M. musicola isolates (1- Lavras, Minas Gerais state and 2- Cruz das Almas, Bahia state) of a group of banana varieties, including ‘Grand Naine’, ‘Prata Anã’, ‘Calipso’, ‘Preciosa’, ‘Japira’ and ‘BRS Platina’. In each plant, two leaves were inoculated; F1- Leaf number one and F2 - Leaf number two. After the dynamics of host-pathogen interactions, the different bananas genotypes were evaluated and the fungus-associated changes in the leaf anatomy within the tissues and stomata were determined. The Grand Naine genotype showed the greatest disease severity, confirming its susceptibility to yellow Sigatoka. The leaf inoculation of M. musicola altered the anatomy. In most cases, contamination increases the thickness of the epidermis, hypodermis and parenchyma.