A laboratory method to evaluate the sensitivity of Colletotrichum musae to postharvest fungicides

Introduction. This protocol aims at detecting and evaluating sensitivity shifts in Colletotrichum musae populations towards fungicides that are currently used for the control of postharvest diseases of bananas. The principle, key advantages, starting plant material, time required and expected results are presented. Materials and methods. The necessary laboratory materials and details of the twelve steps of the protocol for banana sampling and anthracnose lesion development, the agar plate preparation, single-spore isolation, germination test, and data analysis are described. Possible troubleshooting is mentioned. We obtain (a) for antimitotic products, the percentage of resistant strains in the population analysed; (b) for Sterol Biosynthesis Inhibitor (SBI) fungicides, the variation and distribution of the isolates' sensitivity within the population analysed according to their level of radial growth reduction by the fungicide