The two primary postharvest rots of banana (Musa spp.) fruits in Hawai‘i are crown rot and anthracnose.The diseases usually appear on ripening fruits either
at points of sale (farmers’ markets, grocery stores) or later, after purchase. Occurrence of these two diseases is closely linked to poor cultural and disease management
practices in the banana field, to unclean packinghouses,
and to improper postharvest handling. The diseases can
be serious problems for growers who fail to manage them
with a combination of integrated practices. Infected fruits
are safe for humans to consume; however, the infections
reduce fruit quality, shelf life, and marketability.
This publication describes the symptoms of crown
rot and anthracnose diseases of banana in Hawai‘i,
their causal pathogens, and the conditions favoring the
diseases. A set of integrated management practices that
successful banana growers and marketers use to inhibit
disease development and reduce rots is given.