Characterization of climatic conditions that promote infestation of black sigatoka Mycosphaerella fijiensis Morelet, [anamorfo: Pseudocercospora fijiensis (Morelet) Deighton], in the banana region of Teapa, Tabasco

Abstract

Objective:  Characterize how favorable or unfavorable are the climatic conditions for the incidence and development of Black Sigatoka in the banana región of Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Daily temperature data from 59 years from Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico, climatological station (27044) were analized (1961-2019), using historical reports fron IMTA, (2009) and the National Meteorological Service. Relative humidity was estimated using the equation reported by Allen et al. (2006). To determine how suitable are the weather conditions for the incidence and develpment of Black Sigatoka in Teapa, a climatic favorability classification proposed by Júnior et al. (2008) was used.

Results: The results shows that in the area under this study, there are no highly favorable climatic conditions for the incidence and development of this disease, and the spring-summer months are the less favorable; while the autum-winter months are the most favorable.

Study limitations/implications: It is important to do this kind of studies in other banana producing areas in Tabasco, because the climatic conditions (temperature and relative humidity) they are different, so the disease frequency or appearance may vary.

Findings/conclusions: The time period from october to march are the most favorable months for Black Sigatoka incidence and development; so integrated management programs should be designed for this period.

Keywords: temperature, relative humidity, banana, yields, probability, prediction models.