Screening of Banana cultivars (Musa AAA group) against Sigatoka leaf spot disease and its seasonal incidence

The response of sigatoka leaf spot disease to ten promising cultivars of Musa AAA group namely; Jahaji, Barjahaji, Maan Jahaji, Suti Jahaji, Grand Naine, Giant Governor, Amritsagar, Sahabkal, Red Banana and Tulshi Manohar was studied. The estimation of infection index of sigatoka disease revealed that the highest infection of the disease was recorded in Barjahaji with an infection index of 35.1% among all the cultivars while Red Banana was found to be least (28.6%). On the other hand, the monthly observation of infection of the disease during the cropping period showed that the occurrence of the disease was highest in the month of July, 2013 with an infection index of 45.9% and the plants were least infected in January, 2014.