Banana freckle

Photo by Yuan-Min Shen, Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Bugwood.org

found in South East Asia and Oceania with unconfirmed reports from Africa and Central America.
P. cavendishii has been found in Australia, East Timor, Hawaii, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Pacific Islands, Vietnam and Laos.
infects leaves and fruit
numerous minute dark spots (can feel sandpaper)
severe infection causes leaf yellowing
can lead to wilting and death of the plant
spread by spores on wet surfaces

High priority pest of: Bananas

Scientific name: Phyllosticta. spp including P. cavendishii, P. musarum and P. musaechinensis (Phyllosticta maculata is an established pest in parts of Australia and also causes banana freckle but is not found in commercially grown bananas). The Phyllosticta genus was previously referred to as Guignardia.
EPPRD Category: 3
Life Form: Fungus